In a gripping clash at Dharamshala on Sunday, India extended their winning streak in the 2023 World Cup while bringing New Zealand's undefeated run to a halt. This victory also marked India's first triumph against New Zealand in any ICC event in two decades, positioning them atop the points table with five consecutive victories in the tournament, while New Zealand slipped to the second spot with four wins out of five matches.
The star of the Indian victory was Virat Kohli, complemented by a spectacular performance from Mohammed Shami, who achieved the distinction of becoming the first Indian bowler to secure a five-wicket haul in ODI World Cups. Shami's inclusion in the Dharamshala match was necessitated by the injury to the ace all-rounder Hardik Pandya in the game against Bangladesh, leading to Shardul Thakur being omitted and Suryakumar Yadav joining the squad.
Virat Kohli, having been instrumental in India's recent victory over Bangladesh, delivered another masterful performance. The "chase master" was on the verge of securing his second consecutive ODI century but fell short by a mere five runs. Coincidentally, the runs required for Kohli's century were identical to the runs India needed for victory. However, as Kohli inched closer to Sachin Tendulkar's world record of 49 centuries, he was dismissed by Matt Henry. In the same over, Ravindra Jadeja hit the winning runs, sealing New Zealand's first defeat in the ongoing World Cup. Virat Kohli has now emerged as the leading run-scorer in this year's World Cup, a significant accomplishment considering he overcame a slump in form early in the year.
In the current edition of the World Cup, India has chosen to chase targets in all five matches. Rohit Sharma, who endured a duck in India's opening encounter against Australia, became the first player to exceed 300 runs in the tournament, providing the team with a robust start during their pursuit of 274. Rohit Sharma displayed remarkable aggression against Trent Boult and Matt Henry, two of the world's best pacers. His powerful performance included 4 fours and 4 sixes in a 46-ball 40, setting the stage for India. Shubman Gill, in prolific form this year, attained the 2,000-run milestone in ODIs more swiftly than anyone else. Nonetheless, he may have been disappointed with his shot selection, particularly considering the potential to establish himself as a prominent figure in a World Cup that, so far, has been dominated by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
Virat Kohli exhibited prudence before showcasing his brilliant cover drives. On the other end, Shreyas Iyer entered with a determined mindset, thwarting New Zealand's hopes of further dismantling India's batting lineup. The dew was expected to settle quickly compared to other venues, and Iyer ensured that New Zealand's bowlers failed to find their rhythm while he was at the crease. Shreyas Iyer was on track for a more substantial innings, but his presence at the crease was terminated by Trent Boult's well-executed short ball. This dismissal reflected Iyer's vulnerability to short-pitched deliveries, and he skied the ball without the requisite timing and control, resulting in Devon Conway taking a fine catch at deep square leg.
Play was briefly halted due to fog in Dharamshala, an unusual occurrence in the annals of cricket history. Fortunately, the mist cleared promptly, allowing the match to resume. However, India lost their momentum during the chase. Shreyas Iyer was dismissed in the 22nd over, KL Rahul, who appeared to be in good touch during a 54-run partnership with Virat Kohli, was out in the 33rd over, and a tragic run-out befell Suryakumar Yadav.
In the 34th over, Suryakumar Yadav pushed a delivery from Trent Boult to cover, where it was brilliantly fielded by Mitchell Santner. Suryakumar called for a quick single, to which Virat Kohli initially responded but then decided to retreat. Suryakumar, making his ODI World Cup debut, reversed his course to return to the striker's end, but Tom Latham cleanly collected the relay throw and dislodged the bails. Kohli was clearly frustrated, as he was well aware of the significant task at hand.
Ravindra Jadeja made his first appearance in this World Cup and was confronted with a substantial challenge. Neither of the two players at the crease could afford to be dismissed. Without the presence of Hardik and Shardul, India's batting lineup was thin beyond the No.7 position, placing immense pressure on Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja to guide India to victory. The quickfire innings played by Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer had established a manageable required run rate. Kohli and Jadeja successfully steered India to a memorable victory, with their partnership proving decisive.
During New Zealand's innings, Mohammed Siraj dismissed Devon Conway for a duck after Rohit Sharma won the toss, while Mohammed Shami made a pivotal impact with his first ball of the tournament. Shami bowled Will Young with an exquisite delivery, and New Zealand, at 19 for 2 in the ninth over, faced a challenging task ahead. Jasprit Bumrah also added to the early pressure by conceding only 14 runs in his initial four overs.
New Zealand discovered their saviours in Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell, who compiled a partnership of 159 runs for the third wicket. Ravindra was fortunate when he survived a dropped catch by Ravindra Jadeja off Mohammed Shami's bowling. Thereafter, the two New Zealand batsmen capitalized on some subpar Indian fielding. Mitchell was also granted a reprieve when Jasprit Bumrah missed a straightforward chance off Kuldeep Yadav. Rohit Sharma did not conceal his frustration as India's fielding performance declined. To make matters more complicated, Kuldeep Yadav experienced an off day with the ball, as he was struck for two sixes in his first over, placing one of the world's best ODI bowlers under duress. India played with just five bowlers on Sunday, necessitating Rohit Sharma to persist with Kuldeep. Ravindra Jadeja, on the other hand, delivered a spell of 10 overs in one go, maintaining a tight line and length.
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