Team India showcased their prowess in the first semi-final of the 2023 World Cup, securing a commanding 70-run win and earning a spot in the tournament’s final for the fourth time in its history. The match witnessed outstanding centuries from Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer, propelling India to a mammoth total of 397/4.
The Indian batters displayed sheer dominance, with Rohit Sharma leading the charge with a powerful 47 off 29 deliveries. Virat Kohli’s splendid century (117) and Shreyas Iyer’s impressive contribution (105) added to India’s formidable total. The batting lineup’s outstanding performance set the stage for a challenging chase for New Zealand.
Despite India’s imposing total, New Zealand mounted a fightback led by Daryl Mitchell’s remarkable century (134) and contributions from captain Kane Williamson (64). However, India’s bowlers successfully contained the Kiwis, securing crucial wickets to seal the victory.
With this win, India maintained their unbeaten record throughout the ongoing edition of the World Cup, marking their 10th successive victory in the tournament. The team’s consistent performance has solidified their status as strong contenders for the coveted title.
Captain Rohit Sharma’s aggressive approach at the beginning of the innings set the tone for India’s dominance. Overcoming the haunting memories of the 2019 World Cup semi-final loss to New Zealand, Rohit took on the Kiwi pace attack with disdain, providing a solid foundation for the team.
Shubman Gill, alongside Kohli, displayed supreme touch with an innings of 79. However, Gill’s heroic effort was cut short by cramps under humid conditions in Mumbai. In a surprising turn of events, Gill revealed that he had pulled his hamstring and experienced cramps as an after-effect of dengue, which he suffered last month.
“It started with cramps, and I pulled my hamstring. It was humid out there and also after the effects of dengue. I will be okay for finals,” Gill said.
In the post-match press conference, Gill reassured fans about his fitness for the finals. He stated that he hadn’t adjusted anything in his batting due to the conditions but had experienced muscle loss after the dengue infection.
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“I have not really adjusted anything in terms of my batting. Because I’ve lost a bit of muscle mass, the reserve that I had before dengue has decreased. You do get cramps while playing for long in such humid conditions, but generally, that happens after a long period, not so soon. I’ve lost muscle mass due to which that reserve has gone down,” he further stated.
Mumbai has proven to be a challenging ground for batters in this World Cup, with players like Heinrich Klaasen and Glenn Maxwell facing cramping issues. Even the usually fit Virat Kohli experienced cramps during the later stages of his innings on Wednesday.
As India awaits the winner of the second semi-final between South Africa and Australia at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, anticipation builds for the grand finale of the 2023 World Cup.
