In an impressive performance, Team India defeated New Zealand in the Cricket World Cup 2023 semi-final match, securing a spot in the final with a 70-run victory. The Indian skipper, Rohit Sharma, won the toss and elected to bat first, a decision that proved beneficial for India. Taking advantage of the favorable batting conditions, players like Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer scored centuries, leading the team to a total of 397 runs. While the cricket world applauded India’s performance, former Pakistani cricketer Sikandar Bakht made a controversial claim regarding the coin toss during India’s matches.
During his appearance as a pundit on a Pakistani TV channel, Bakht suggested that Rohit Sharma intentionally threw the coin far away to increase his chances of winning the toss. He stated, “Can I be allowed a little mischief? At the time of the toss, Rohit Sharma throws the coin far from the range of any opposition captain. Thus, the opposition captain cannot go and cross-check about the call.”
Bakht’s comment sparked a debate, and it was widely criticized by cricket legends. Similar claims have been made throughout the World Cup, including accusations against the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of tilting the game in India’s favor by changing the pitch at the Wankhede Stadium just before the semi-final.
Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar vehemently dismissed these reports, stating, “All those morons who have been saying about pitch change, I hope they just shut up, stop taking potshots at India. Stop talking about pitch change. It was for both teams.” Gavaskar further emphasized that the pitch change was known to the International Cricket Council (ICC) and its independent pitch consultant, Atkinson.
The ICC also issued a statement addressing the “pitch swap controversy,” confirming that Atkinson was aware of the change. Despite these controversies, Team India’s remarkable performance in the semi-final has solidified their place in the final, and they are now one step closer to becoming Cricket World Cup champions.
Topics mentioned in this article: Team India, New Zealand, Cricket World Cup 2023, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Sikandar Bakht, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Sunil Gavaskar, International Cricket Council (ICC).
