India is in the final of the ODI Cricket World Cup 2023. Only one win remains between the Rohit Sharma-led Indian cricket team and the Cricket World Cup trophy. India has not won an ICC trophy since 2013 and the Indian cricket team is set to end that drought on Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Before the match, there were reports that the hosts had changed the pitch at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium to assist their spinners.
According to the reports, although a new deck was prepared for the match, the match was ultimately played on a ‘used surface’. After Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and Mohammed Shami led India to the final of the 2023 Cricket World Cup with a win over New Zealand, legendary Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar fumed over the rumours.
“I hope Australia gets through it because then we will read more nonsense about shifting the field. And then to see all those idiots who have been proven wrong with 713 runs scored on this field, which should have been a shifted field that is to say That will happen. I would like to see that come from the Australians and their media. I would like to see those idiots proven wrong again. It doesn’t matter who wins. The runs and the way the field behaves.” on Sterrensport.
Talking about the match, Virat Kohli’s world record 50th ODI hundred and a scintillating century from Shreyas Iyer propelled India to the World Cup final with a 70-run win over New Zealand in their last four clash on Wednesday. Rohit Sharma’s (47 off 29 balls) pyrotechnics, tons from Kohli (117 off 113) and Iyer (105 off 70), and a flowing 66-ball 80 from Shubman Gill, who retired injured due to cramps, took India to an imposing 397 for four after the skipper won a good toss.
New Zealand were stopped at 327 in 48.5 overs, with Mohammed Shami finishing with incredible figures of 7/57.
The highlight of the New Zealand innings was a 181-run partnership between Kane Williamson (69) and Daryl Mitchell (134).
Earlier, Rohit, as is his wont, went straight after the bowling and almost killed the match in the first hour of play at the Wankhede Stadium, his dazzling string of stokes leaving the Kiwis bruised and battered.
Rohit went for one too many and fell for a 29-ball 47, but Gill took over from there and continued to torment the Kiwis with his repertoire of strokes.
After Gill was forced back, Kohli and Iyer continued the good work to make New Zealand an unlikely target. However, Gill came back and remained not out on 80 off 66 balls.
Over the course of his innings, Kohli also became the first batsman in the history of the game to score 50 ODI centuries, surpassing his idol Sachin Tendulkar.
With PTI inputs
Topics mentioned in this article