In a continuing display of their prowess in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, Team India secured a convincing victory over New Zealand by four wickets in Dharamsala on a Sunday. New Zealand batted first and managed to post a total of 273 runs, with Daryl Mitchell notably scoring 130 runs. However, the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team successfully chased down the target with two overs to spare, thanks to a crucial innings of 95 runs by Virat Kohli. Notably, pacer Mohammed Shami played a significant role by taking five wickets, limiting the formidable New Zealand side to a below-par score.
In celebration of India's win, the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Rajasthan Royals shared a humorous video on social media to encapsulate the victory over the Blackcaps. This video was cleverly edited from a scene in the popular 2011 Bollywood movie, 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara', and features the song ‘kisi din yeh tamasha muskura kar hum bhi dekhenge’, which is making rounds on the internet.
New Zealand made a strong start in their batting innings, but exceptional performances by Mohammed Shami and Virat Kohli ensured that the team led by Rohit Sharma secured their fifth consecutive victory in the tournament.
With this win, India have risen to the top of the points table with 10 points and an impressive Net Run Rate of +1.353. This match marked New Zealand's first loss in the competition, and they now hold the second position with 8 points from 5 matches, along with a Net Run Rate of +1.481.
Virat Kohli is just 1 century away from Sachin Tendulkar’s record
Virat Kohli once again shone as the standout performer for the Indian cricket team, narrowly missing his 49th ODI century when he was dismissed for 95 after building a crucial partnership with Ravindra Jadeja. Rohit Sharma provided an excellent start with a brisk 46 off 40 balls. Notably, Virat Kohjli is just a century away from equalling Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 centuries in the ODIs.
In the earlier part of the match, Daryl Mitchell displayed remarkable determination by scoring a hundred, but India's pacer Mohammed Shami stole the show with a five-wicket haul in his first game of the Cricket World Cup 2023, effectively restricting New Zealand to a total of 273 all out.
Next, India are set to face the defending champions, England, in the 29th fixture of the ongoing ICC Men's World Cup 2023, scheduled for Sunday, October 29, at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. England, in contrast, have had a challenging tournament, experiencing three defeats in four encounters and currently holding the 8th position in the points table.