India on Verge of Historic ODI World Cup Victory
India’s cricket team, led by Rohit Sharma, is just one win away from securing their third ODI World Cup title. If they emerge victorious in the final on Sunday, it will mark a significant milestone for the side. Following a convincing 70-run win over New Zealand in the semi-finals of the ICC Cricket World Cup, Sharma acknowledged that his team had been a bit sloppy on the field. He also commended Daryl Mitchell and Kane Williamson, who formed a remarkable 181-run partnership for the Kiwis.
The semi-final match at Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday witnessed Mohammed Shami’s exceptional seven-wicket haul and Virat Kohli’s record-breaking 50th ODI century. These performances were the highlights of India’s commanding 70-run victory over New Zealand. Speaking in the post-match presentation, Sharma said, “I have played a lot of cricket here, and any score on this ground, you cannot relax. We knew there would be pressure on us. We were very calm, even though we were a bit sloppy on the field. These things are bound to happen, but glad we could get the job done.”
Reflecting on the partnership between Mitchell and Kane, Sharma admitted that it was challenging for India to predict the outcome if they had scored 30-40 runs less. However, he praised his team’s ability to remain composed under pressure. “The form all the guys are in, top five-six batters, whenever they have gotten an opportunity, they have made it count,” he added. Sharma also expressed his satisfaction with the performances of Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill, highlighting their contributions to the team’s success.
India’s decision to bat first proved fruitful as they amassed a total of 397/4 in their 50 overs. Sharma and Gill provided a solid opening partnership of 71 runs, with Sharma scoring 47 runs off 29 balls and Gill contributing 80 runs off 66 balls. Kohli went on to score his 50th ODI century, while Iyer recorded his second consecutive World Cup century, helping India set a massive target. KL Rahul also made a significant contribution with a quickfire 39 off 20 balls.
In response, New Zealand lost two early wickets but fought back with a remarkable 181-run partnership between Mitchell and Williamson. However, Shami’s two-wicket over turned the tide in India’s favor. The Indian bowlers performed exceptionally well in the death overs, restricting New Zealand to 327 runs in 48.5 overs. Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj each claimed a wicket, with Shami being awarded the “Player of the Match” for his outstanding performance.
India now looks forward to the final with optimism and determination as they aim to secure their third ODI World Cup title.
