India has entered the final of World Cup 2023. India registered a memorable win in the semi-final against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday. India defeated the Kiwi team by 70 runs. Rohit Brigade scored a huge score of 397/4 after winning the toss. In reply, New Zealand’s innings was reduced to 327 runs in 48.5 overs. While veteran Virat Kohli scored a historic century, fast pacer Mohammed Shami bowled a killer bowler. Let us take a look at the five heroes of Team India’s victory.
Virat Kohli: Star batsman Kohli played an inning of 117 runs in 113 balls with the help of 9 fours and 2 sixes. This was his 50th ODI century. Kohli has become the player to score the most centuries in ODI cricket. He broke the record of great batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 49 centuries. Kohli played an important role in taking India to a strong score in the semi-finals. He came to bat in the ninth over and was out in the 44th over. He made a partnership of 93 runs with Gill and 163 runs with Shreyas Iyer.
Mohammed Shami: Fast bowler Shami continues to excel in the World Cup. He spent 57 runs in 9.5 overs against New Zealand and took 7 wickets. Shami put pressure on the Kiwi team by dismissing openers Devon Conway (13) and Rachin Ravindra (13) cheaply. Shami brought success to India at a time when Kane Williamson (69) and Daryl Mitchell (134) were giving tension to Team India. There was a partnership of 181 runs between the two for the third wicket, which was broken by Shami by dismissing Williamson in the 33rd over. Thereafter, New Zealand lost wickets at regular intervals. Mitchell became Shami’s victim in the 46th over. He wrapped up New Zealand’s innings by taking the last two wickets.
Shreyas Iyer: Middle-order batsman Iyer looked different in the semi-finals. He batted in a explosive style. Iyer scored 105 runs in 70 balls with the help of 4 fours and 8 sixes. Apart from making a century partnership with Kohli, he handled the front very well with KL Rahul (39 not out in 20 balls). Both added 54 runs for the fourth wicket and took India beyond 380. If Iyer had not changed gears, perhaps the team would not have been able to reach close to 400. He returned to the pavilion in the 49th over.
Rohit Sharma: Captain Rohit played a short but effective innings. He gave India a flying start and put New Zealand’s bowlers under pressure right from the start. Rohit scored 47 runs in 29 balls. He hit 4 fours and as many sixes in his innings. He was out in the ninth over and at that time the team’s score was 71/1.At the same time, Rohit captained New Zealand with great wisdom during the innings. In the high voltage match, when no other pacer apart from Shami was seen making much impact, he got the spinners’ quota of overs completed. Rohit made good use of five bowlers. He did not let the lack of a sixth bowler be felt.
Ravindra Jadeja: Spin all-rounder Jadeja did wonders in fielding. He took three important catches. He took a surprising catch of Glenn Phillips (41) near the boundary rope in the 43rd over bowled by Bumrah, who was adopting an aggressive stance. After this, Jadeja took the catch of Mark Chapman (2) in the 44th over. This over was bowled by Kuldeep Yadav. These two catches of Jadeja played an important role in getting India back in the match. Apart from this, he took the catch of Mitchell, who was Shami’s fifth victim. Mitchell lost his wicket while firing in the air towards deep midwicket.
