In order to lead India to the competition final, Mohammed Shami became the first bowler to take three five-wicket hauls in a single 50-over World Cup, while Virat Kohli struck a record-breaking 50th ODI century, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s total. Beyond Stuart Binny’s 6 for 4, Shami’s 7 for 57 is also the best-ever ODI stats for an Indian bowler. A determined Daryll Mitchell threatened to offer Wankhede another mind-numbing chase à la Glenn Maxwell for parts of the chase after India reached 397/4, but the 2019 finalists were ultimately defeated by 70 runs due to lack of support.

Around Kohli’s fireworks (117 off 113) was some amazing batting from everyone. In the first PowerPlay, Rohit Sharma misled Mitchell Santner and the New Zealand quicks with his enthusiastic style. His 47 off 22 set the squad up, but he lived and died by the sword. After that, Shubman Gill took over and scored immediately as Kohli became comfortable and attacked Lockie Ferguson’s shoddy lengths. Before the harsh Mumbai weather got the better of him and forced him to retire injured, he had reached a half-century and looked ready to make a century. But that brought Shreyas Iyer into the center, and he was lethal against Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra, the part-timers from New Zealand.

India steadied well with 66 and 64 in the next two sets of ten overs after scoring 84 runs in the opening ten overs, but Iyer and Kohli managed to push it even farther with 73 in the following ten overs. With a score of 287/1 in 40 overs, India was primed for victory. After scoring the record century, Kohli displayed intense passion before getting out in the 44th over. But Iyer raced to a century from 67 balls. As India scored 110 runs in the final 10 overs to give the Kiwis a difficult task, KL Rahul also went for the kill at the very end.

Devon Conway got the chase underway with a four past point, and after Jasprit Bumrah made an unusually sluggish start, he added another in the opening over. Because Mohammed Siraj was also off early, Rohit Sharma decided to upset the chasing side early by bringing on Mohammed Shami in the sixth over. He circled the stumps to Conway, who is left-handed, and got him to follow and snag a ball that sailed past him. A superb diving catch was made by KL Rahul behind the wickets. Taking the wicket of Rachin Ravindra, who was also caught behind, in his subsequent over, Shami put New Zealand under even more pressure in an already difficult chase.

New Zealand’s progress was boosted by Daryl Mitchell and Kane Williamson, who added 41 runs in the five overs after the PowerPlay. India missed a run out opportunity when Rahul took the bails off with his glove, but Mitchell and Williamson negotiated well against India’s spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja, keeping the scoring rate at slightly above six an over. Mitchell and Williamson both reached half-centuries, with Mitchell taking on Jadeja with two sixes to help New Zealand reach 180 for 2 in 28 overs. The equation was still challenging, and Rohit brought back Bumrah to try and break the partnership and derail the chase. Mitchell miscued a slower ball from Bumrah, but he managed to send it to the boundary. In the same over, Mohammed Shami dropped a simple catch offered to him by Williamson at mid-on.

The crowd at Wankhede Stadium fell silent as Daryl Mitchell played one of the best shots of the match, a thunderous uppish drive that sent a Jasprit Bumrah delivery over mid-off for a six on the first ball of the 31st over. With the asking rate now hovering around ten an over, the tension was palpable. Williamson played a classic punch through cover in the same over, leaving India’s captain Rohit Sharma with a lot to think about heading into the final stages of the chase.

In the 33rd over, Mitchell became only the second batsman after Sourav Ganguly to score two centuries against an opposition in the same World Cup edition. However, in that same over, Shami made amends for his earlier dropped catch by having Williamson caught at deep square leg and then trapping Tom Latham leg before two balls later, effectively extinguishing New Zealand’s hopes.

India continued to tighten the noose with two more tight overs from Ravindra Jadeja and Shami, further increasing the asking rate. Mitchell, however, refused to give up. He hit Shami for a huge six in the 39th over and then displayed exceptional skill against Mohammed Siraj’s wide yorkers from around the stumps. He then played a scoop for a six over fine leg, bringing New Zealand’s score to 266/4 in 40 overs. The target remained a daunting 132 off the last 60 balls, but the conditions and Mitchell’s unwavering determination meant the match was set up for a thrilling climax.

Glenn Phillips joined the party by taking 20 runs off the 41st over from Mohammed Siraj. The match continued to ebb and flow, with Kuldeep Yadav bowling an exceptional over in which he nearly dismissed Mitchell and conceded just two runs. However, Jasprit Bumrah returned and struck another blow with a slower one that Phillips miscued in an attempt to hit another six. Ravindra Jadeja took a sharp catch at long off, leaving Mitchell with a lot of work to do in the company of the lower order.

Mark Chapman walked out and was out in a jiffy in another exceptional over at the death from Kuldeep, which yielded New Zealand just four runs and a wicket.

Shami then returned to sound the death knell for New Zealand as he had Mitchell caught in the deep to complete his five-wicket haul. With this, Shami became the first bowler to pick up his third five-wicket haul in a single edition of the World Cup. He added two more to his record tally, surpassing Ashish Nehra’s 6 for 23 against England in the 2003 World Cup and earning the best-ever bowling figures in a World Cup knockout fixture.

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The highly anticipated clash between the tournament’s top two teams, both boasting impressive records, turned into a one-sided affair. India amassed a formidable 326/5, with Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 101 equaling Sachin Tendulkar‘s ODI world record of 49 centuries. South Africa’s response, however, was nothing short of disastrous. Ravindra Jadeja’s sensational 5/33 bowling performance dismantled the Proteas innings, reducing them to a mere 83 all out in 27.1 overs, their heaviest-ever defeat by runs in the format. India’s powerplay score of 91 alone surpassed South Africa’s entire innings total. This resounding victory left everyone wondering how things had gone so horribly wrong for the Proteas.

“An excellent question, and a significant understatement,” Walter acknowledged. “Today, we were simply outplayed. While they raced off to a quick start, we managed to recover somewhat. However, their total was too much to chase on this pitch. And then, from a bowling perspective, they applied pressure from the outset, leaving us with no opportunity to regain control.”

South Africa’s batting lineup, boasting a combined eight centuries in the tournament’s first seven games, faltered against India’s bowling attack. Renowned for their big-hitting prowess, Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, and Heinrich Klaasen contributed a mere 28 runs collectively, with Klaasen’s 13 being the highest score among them.

Marco Jansen, the tournament’s leading new-ball bowler with 18 powerplay wickets, struggled to find his rhythm against India’s openers. His first four overs conceded 43 runs, setting the tone for a disappointing spell that ended with career-worst figures of 1/94 at an economy rate of 9.72.

Walter expressed confidence that Jansen’s confidence wouldn’t be shaken by this setback: “Isn’t it a privilege to perform in front of thousands in a match like today, with so many opportunities to learn? He had a rough day, but he has the talent to bounce back and be effective next time. He now understands what it’s like to compete in a pressure cooker with so many people cheering against you. That experience is irreplaceable. You can’t find it anywhere else.”

While both teams had already secured their places in the semifinals before Sunday’s match, the prospect of facing India again in the knockout stages didn’t escape Walter’s mind.

“You have to believe that if you execute your skills well on the day, you have a chance. Today, we didn’t do that from the start.

“However, every day brings new lessons and surprises. So, it wouldn’t surprise me if we turned the tables the next time we meet. The beauty of it is that we may have another chance.”

South Africa’s supporters will take solace in the fact that their team didn’t defeat themselves; instead, they succumbed to a superior opponent. Walter echoed this sentiment: “The scoreboard speaks for itself. India was far superior, there’s no disputing that.

“Just as we’ve been far superior to other teams that, on paper, seemed evenly matched or even inferior to us.

“In international cricket, once you gain the upper hand, anyone can beat anyone. Today, the Indian team took control, and we were unable to regain momentum.”

Despite the heavy defeat, the South Africans didn’t take it lightly: “If you enter the dressing room now, you’ll find a group of guys deeply disappointed that we weren’t able to honor what was an incredible occasion and a fantastic opportunity to showcase our talents. We’ve played so well throughout this World Cup, and we would have wanted nothing more than for this to be a great contest.”

Walter’s team will need to regroup quickly for a potentially challenging final league match against Afghanistan in Ahmedabad on Friday. “Our focus for the next four days remains the same: utilizing the available time to prepare for the next fixture, and then it’s onto the semi-final. Nothing changes.

“The guys have put in a lot of hard work, and we’ve invested a great deal of time in our preparation. Now, it’s about recovering mentally and physically and being ready to compete the way we have throughout the tournament.”

But not, as he didn’t have to say, the way they failed to do on Sunday.

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India’s victory was largely due to Rohit Sharma’s bold and aggressive style, as the skipper went on the attack right away. In his 40 balls, he slog-swept Mitchell Santner for four stunning sixes, bounded Trent Boult right down the ground, and fearlessly advanced down the pitch twice against Matt Henry. But Lockie Ferguson’s arrival signaled disaster on two fronts. With two wickets in his opening eight deliveries, the fast bowler quickly put an end to India’s promising start by knocking out both of their well-positioned openers. Unfortunately, Shubman Gill’s effort at an uppercut against a short delivery resulted in the ball going straight to the third man fielder, while Rohit’s inside edge made its way into his middle stump. Still, Shreyas Iyer proceeded to advance steadily, hitting a barrage of boundaries against the pacer and leading India beyond the 100-run threshold. A dense fog covered the ground shortly after, causing an 11-minute delay.”

“Murphy gave up more boundaries after the forced pause, with Kohli skillfully putting one through the covers and flicking another to the legside in the same over. However, Trent Boult took advantage of Iyer’s weakness to short-pitched deliveries shortly after the fifty-run partnership was reached, and India’s number four batsman was removed after hitting 33 runs.”

With some frugal overs from Rachin Ravindra all over his opening stint, New Zealand was able to mount a comeback. But Kohli took advantage of the situation and punished an infrequently overpitched ball with a well-placed six. After a cautious start to his innings, KL Rahul was picking up speed when New Zealand carried out a strategy review, which led to the dissolution of the partnership just after they crossed the fifty-run threshold. After being initially rejected by the on-field ruling, Santner chose to have Rahul reviewed for leg before wicket, and the Decision Review System’s three red flags verified New Zealand’s first wicket. After a mix-up with Kohli, Santner’s quick fielding in the very next over resulted in Suryakumar Yadav’s unlucky run-out.”

Despite this setback, Kohli persisted, teaming up with Jadeja when India required an additional 83 runs in the final 16 overs. The all-rounder started off well, hitting back-to-back boundaries from Ferguson and even surviving an early LBW scare. However, he was Kohli’s perfect second fiddle, frequently relieving pressure with a boundary at the right moment. Together, they chipped away at Santner with some deft running between the wickets. When the score was down to a tight 26 off 30, Kohli made up ground with a four and a six off a resurgent Boult to put India far ahead, but an unnecessary slog lost him his second century of the competition. But with barely five days to go, Jadeja completed the paperwork to assist India make it five in five.

Mitchell had earlier achieved his sixth century in One-Day Internationals, helping New Zealand to a total of 273. With a 75-point partnership from Ravindra, they helped the team escape a tight spot at 19/2. But a late collapse that saw six wickets go for only thirty runs limited New Zealand to a total that was deemed acceptable.

India made a smart decision by bowling first since their pacers started to get some momentum right away. Jasprit Bumrah remained accurate, and Mohammed Siraj and Shami’s early runs kept New Zealand to 34/2 in the PowerPlay—the third-lowest total in that period in the World Cup. After that, Mitchell and Ravindra joined forces, directing a 159-run collaboration to save New Zealand from their early struggles.

To the surprise of India, Ravindra had many interactions with the Decision Review System (DRS) and was given several chances to extend his innings. His journey started when India chose to examine an LBW appeal despite Bumrah’s legal advice and he had not even scored a run. Though he had only scored six runs against Shami when he was first given out caught behind, Ravindra successfully contested the judgment with the aid of a review. In the same over, a fielder who shared his last name missed an easy catch at backward point, just missing him.

Ravindra was declared out of bounds later in his innings after hitting fifty in fifty balls, however, the call was reversed after the replays revealed that the ball was pitching outside the leg stump.

There was not much turn for the spinners. Jadeja delivered his ten straight without missing a beat, and Mitchell punished Kuldeep Yadav by hitting two straight down the ground in his next two overs. During the middle overs, he was the focal point of New Zealand’s counterattack, reaching his second World Cup half-century in 60 balls and converting it into a run-a-ball century. Mitchell also lost a few runs, as Bumrah dropped another easy catch and KL Rahul spilled a difficult opportunity.

“Shami finally ended the strong alliance, bringing about a dip in the standings when Mitchell was comfortably positioned at the crease. Three missed opportunities later, Ravindra lofted the ball straight to the long-on fielder to give India their first success. A 40-ball spell in which the home team’s bowlers successfully stopped the opposition’s strong hitters from hitting any boundaries came next. When Siraj returned during the final overs, Glenn Phillips finally struck a six to get out of the restraints. But his short-lived contribution ended with a top-edge when he attempted a slog, which Rohit deftly clung onto in the face of three rushing fielders.”

“In the last overs, Shami added three more wickets to his total. He displayed outstanding strategy by hitting two consecutive leg-stumps to Matt Henry in the 48th over, and an off-stump to Mitchell Santner in the next over. Daryl Mitchell, who was caught out on the last delivery of the New Zealand innings, became his fifth wicket, an extremely valuable wicket. To increase the stress, New Zealand suffered their first tournament defeat after a stunning collapse that was capped off by a run-out on the last ball.”

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India defeated Bangladesh by seven wickets in Pune on Wednesday to maintain their perfect record in the 2023 ODI World Cup.

India managed to reach the mark with seven wickets and 41 overs left after reducing Bangladesh to 256/8.

Before Virat Kohli put the finishing touches on things with an undefeated century, Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma gave things a strong start with fifty-five each.

Given that it was against Bangladesh in his first World Cup match, Kohli’s 48th ODI century was especially important.

Rohit Sharma, who has been playing brilliantly for the past two games, carried on his winning streak with a fast-bowled 48 off 37 balls.

With two fours and a six in the opening over, he got off to a quick start. In his following over, he faced Shariful Islam once more, hitting him for four and a six over deep midwicket.

With two sixes off Nasum Ahmed, Shubman Gill, who had been cautious at first, also joined the celebration. India got off to a fast start in the chase thanks to a 79-run partnership between the two openers in only 10 overs.

Even after being smacked for a four and a six, Hasan Mahmud kept to his strategy and bowled short to Rohit Sharma. The strategy eventually paid off when Rohit attempted to hold down a short ball but miscued it to the fielder at deep square leg for 48.

But in the same over, Bangladesh was unable to exert any pressure on Virat Kohli, the new man, who was awarded two free hits.

Bangladesh was in dire need of wickets to climb back into the game as India was dominating. Soon after Shubman Gill turned fifty, they were able to remove him from the game, but Kohli and Shreyas Iyer made sure there were no more mishaps.

India maintained control of the chase even after Shreyas Iyer was out because KL Rahul and Virat Kohli combined to win the match.

In the last few overs, the focus turned on Kohli getting to 100 runs. At one point, with India needing just 28 runs to win with Rahul at 33 and Kohli at 73, Kohli saw an opportunity to reach 100 runs.

After he hit Hasan Mahmud for a six, Rahul responded appropriately by switching up the strike at the other end.

After hitting a six to complete his century, India needed just eight overs to win.

Rahul was still unbeaten at 34.

Bangladesh had a good start thanks to their openers, but they missed a great chance to score a large total.

With only 10 runs allowed in the first five overs, India’s new-ball bowlers got off to a strong start against Bangladesh. However, in the following five overs, the momentum shifted thanks to a barrage of boundaries from Tanzid Hasan and Litton Das.

Bangladesh ended the powerplay with 63 runs after scoring 53 runs in the next five overs.

Hardik Pandya was forced to leave the field early due to an ankle injury, but India battled and limited Bangladesh to 256/8.

Bangladesh had a strong start thanks to the openers, but Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja broke the stand and caused a collapse. Tanzid Hasan was caught leg before wicket by Kuldeep, while Jadeja removed the form of Najmul Shanto, who was leading in Shakib Al Hasan’s absence.

Bangladesh never came back, going from 93/0 to 137/4.

The middle part of Bangladesh’s innings saw India well in charge as their scoring dropped. Now, it was up to the experienced team of Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim to lead Bangladesh to a good score.

With just over seven overs left, Rahim tried to keep the scoreboard moving, but India struck again before he could start an attack in the dying overs.

Thankfully for Bangladesh, Mahmudullah was able to get boundaries off India’s speed trio in the last five overs, helping his team pass 250.

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The ideal cricket conditions, characterized by short boundaries, a swift outfield, a flat wicket, a manageable target, and the presence of dew, all converged to create the perfect stage for Rohit Sharma. He not only unleashed a blistering assault on Afghanistan’s bowling attack but also etched his name into the annals of cricket history by breaking multiple records. During his scintillating 84-ball innings, Rohit Sharma claimed the title of the highest six-hitter in international cricket, surpassing Chris Gayle’s previous record of 553. Additionally, he achieved the milestone of India’s fastest World Cup century in just 63 deliveries and eclipsed Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most centuries in global cricket events, securing his sixth century.

The beginning of India’s chase wasn’t particularly brisk, with only 13 runs on the board after the first three overs. However, Rohit Sharma then took it upon himself to launch a one-man assault on the opposition. Fazalhaq Farooqi bore the brunt of his aggression, conceding 31 runs, which included four boundaries and two sixes, in just 10 balls, leading to his immediate removal from the bowling attack. Subsequently, Naveen-ul-Haq and Azmatullah Omarzai suffered a similar fate, as they were each hit for a six and a four. Meanwhile, it took Ishan Kishan nine deliveries to open his World Cup account, while Captain Rohit Sharma shouldered the bulk of the scoring responsibilities throughout his innings. During the Powerplay, India amassed 94 runs, with Rohit contributing a significant 76 of those on his own.

Amid all the batting fireworks, Afghanistan curiously kept Rashid Khan on the sidelines until the 15th over, despite his impressive track record against Rohit Sharma in other white-ball formats, having dismissed him four times. By the time Rashid was introduced, the Indian captain had already raced to a stunning 88 runs off 52 balls, and India’s required run rate had dropped to a very comfortable 4.08. However, Rashid lived up to his reputation, preventing Ishan Kishan from reaching a half-century by just three runs. He eventually outfoxed Rohit with a well-executed googly, but not before Rohit also put him in the firing line. Such was the relentlessness of Rohit’s assault that he, in fact, lofted one with impeccable timing over midwicket for a maximum.

When Rohit Sharma departed, India had already surpassed the 200-run mark in the 25th over. Virat Kohli, remaining unbeaten with 55, and Shreyas Iyer, contributing 25, capitalized on this strong foundation, forging an unbroken 72-run partnership that guided India to victory without any further setbacks. Despite a night filled with Rohit’s relentless sixes, it was Iyer’s colossal 101-meter hit off Mujeeb – the largest of the tournament thus far – that captured the spotlight. Shortly after, Kohli sealed the deal with consecutive half-centuries, marking the beginning of his World Cup campaign in style.

Earlier in the day, Afghanistan found themselves in a precarious position at 63/3, but a resilient 121-run partnership between Hashmatullah Shahidi (80) and Omarzai (62) helped them recover. However, Jasprit Bumrah’s exceptional performance resulted in his best World Cup figures of 4-39, restricting Afghanistan to a total of 272/8 after they chose to bat. While the two batsmen who scored half-centuries successfully held off the Indian bowling attack for most of the middle overs, Bumrah made a crucial impact in the late stages of the innings, preventing them from making a substantial recovery.

During his four-over spell in the powerplay, Jasprit Bumrah effectively thwarted a potentially dangerous partnership, registering an impressive 19 dot balls. He claimed the wicket of Ibrahim Zadran, who had initially survived a close LBW review, thanks to some fluid drives, but was eventually dismissed after edging behind. Rahmanullah Gurbaz reached the team’s fifty in the 11th over but soon fell to a well-directed bouncer from Hardik Pandya, disrupting yet another budding partnership. In a matter of two deliveries, Shardul Thakur trapped Rahmat Shah leg-before-wicket, pushing Afghanistan to a precarious 63/3 just after the drinks break.

The partnership between the captain and the promoted Omarzai played a pivotal role in Afghanistan’s recovery during the fourth-wicket stand. They did take their time to settle in before picking up the pace. Notably, Hashmatullah Shahidi took a well-calculated risk by employing a slog-sweep against Ravindra Jadeja, recognizing that India had one fielder less within the inner ring. Before this, Afghanistan had endured 11 consecutive overs without a boundary. It was Omarzai who finally broke the shackles in the 25th over, taking on Kuldeep Yadav with two lofted shots down the ground in just three balls. Over the next 10 overs, Afghanistan significantly increased their run rate, accumulating 89 runs. This dynamic duo won the battle during the middle overs, both reaching their respective half-centuries, contributing to Afghanistan’s second-best partnership in World Cup history.

Hashmatullah Shahidi efficiently dispatched the two short deliveries from Hardik Pandya to reach his half-century, but the Indian vice-captain bounced back strongly in his next over, dismantling Omarzai’s stumps and ending the resilient partnership. Following this breakthrough, Afghanistan struggled to regain its momentum, especially with Kuldeep Yadav returning to the attack and applying the brakes. After creating several difficulties for the Afghanistan captain, the spinner ultimately trapped him leg-before-wicket for 80 runs, concluding a commendable spell of 10 overs, 40 runs, and one wicket.

Jasprit Bumrah’s return during the death overs intensified Afghanistan’s woes. After reaching 184 for 3 in the 35th over, Afghanistan stumbled to 235/7 as India’s premier pacer dismissed both of Afghanistan’s power hitters – Najibullah Zadran and Mohammad Nabi – in the same over. While Mujeeb ur Rahman and Rashid Khan briefly posed a threat, Bumrah put an end to Rashid’s entertaining cameo when he was 16, limiting Afghanistan to a modest total of 272/8.

Brief scores

Afghanistan 272/8 in 50 overs (Hashmatullah Shahidi 80, Azmatullah Omarzai 62; Jasprit Bumrah 4-39, Hardik Pandya 2-43)

India 273/2 in 35 overs (Rohit Sharma 131, Virat Kohli 55*; Rashid Khan 2-57)

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The hunt for India did not go without difficulty by any means. For a side that had experienced an unlucky 5/3 start in their previous World Cup match back in 2019, it was a similar situation at Chepauk. Ishan Kishan, standing in for Shubman Gill, lost a great chance when he was caught at slip in the opening over after getting attacked by a wide ball. Josh Hazlewood caused chaos by sending both Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer back to the pavilion for ducks in the second over of the chase, shocking the fans and the locker room.

If Australia had taken advantage of a chance offered by Kohli’s failed pull shot a few overs later, India may have been in a tighter situation. Mitchell Marsh missed the opportunity, however, and Kohli decided to take a more sensible approach. India had only scored 27 runs as the powerplay ended, but they gradually started to impose themselves and scored 53 more runs in the next 10 overs. While India’s spinners had a successful day, Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell were struggling to quite match their degree of impact.

When Kohli despatched Cameron Green for two consecutive boundaries, he was able to remove him from the bowling attack. While Zampa faced Rahul in his first over, Rahul showed a good attitude and collected three boundaries. After that initial push, the pair decided to rotate their strikes slowly, continuously scoring at a pace of about four runs per over, which was in line with the required run rate.

They started to release the shots more freely as the target got closer. As a result, Kohli’s brave innings was cut short at 85, giving Hazlewood his third wicket. Rahul, meanwhile, came perilously close to a century, missing the mark by only four runs.

Early in the day, Australia came under intense pressure from India’s trio of spin spinners in the middle overs, causing a spectacular collapse that finally resulted in Australia being bowled out for just 199 runs. Early on, as Marsh left for a duck, he caused one to lag behind and slide. After that early setback, though, David Warner and Steve Smith adopted a careful strategy to control the innings on a difficult wicket.

When facing deliveries that were either too full or too short, Smith acted strongly, as seen in his battle with Hardik Pandya. Ashwin’s early introduction in the attack by India did not have the intended effect either.

Australia reached an impressive 71/1 after the opening 15 overs, and both batsmen looked confident. The key breakthrough given by Kuldeep Yadav, though, caused Warner to return one to him. This was the turning point in the game. After that, Ravindra Jadeja took control and seriously hurt the previous world champions.

Jadeja used his left-arm spin to produce a ball that turned quickly and smacked into the off stump, dismissing Smith, an important player. He continued by removing Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey in the same over, ruining Australia’s chances.

The wickets kept falling, and even Australia’s last batting pair, Maxwell and Green, was unable to mount a comeback. Kuldeep caused Maxwell’s leg stump to be damaged, and Green gave Ashwin his first wicket. Australia’s score dropped from 111/2 to a perilous 140/7 as a result of this powerful breakdown.

Without the important contributions made in the latter stages by Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, Australia’s situation may have been far more serious. Their attempts ultimately did little more than delay the inevitable result, as India easily won with 52 balls remaining.

Brief scores; Australia 199 all out in 49.3 overs (Smith 46, Warner 41; Jadeja 3/28)

India 201/4 in 41.2 overs (Rahul 96*, Kohli 85; Hazlewood 3/38)

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The defending champions were denied a chance to get some match practice in Guwahati on Saturday as their rain-washed-out warm-up match against England was called off without a ball being bowled.

India will now play their second and final warm-up match against the Netherlands at the Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday. The Dutch qualified for their fifth World Cup appearance after finishing second behind Sri Lanka in the Qualifiers event.

However, India might miss the services of their former captain Virat Kohli for the match. Kohli has flown back to Mumbai due to a personal emergency but is expected to rejoin the squad before the start of the World Cup.

Team India traveled to Thiruvananthapuram from Guwahati on a special aircraft on Sunday evening, but Virat Kohli was not part of the group. The veteran batter requested leave from the team management due to a personal emergency and flew back to Mumbai.

Kohli is expected to join the Indian team in Thiruvananthapuram later on Monday.

India will be hoping for some cricket action in their final warm-up game before the World Cup on Tuesday, but the weather forecast in Thiruvananthapuram is not promising. According to Accuweather, there is a 96% chance of precipitation and a 46% chance of a thunderstorm.

This is concerning news, as three warm-up matches have already been affected by rain, two of which were played in Thiruvananthapuram. The South Africa-Afghanistan match was washed out, and the Australia-Netherlands match was reduced to a 23-overs contest before being called off.

If the rain does wash out India’s final warm-up match, it will be a major blow to their preparations for the World Cup. The Men in Blue will need all the practice they can get, as they are looking to defend their title.

India’s second warm-up match against the Netherlands on Tuesday is at risk of being washed out due to rain, but captain Rohit Sharma is likely to remain unfazed. Sharma has previously termed these fixtures as mere “formality” for Team India, who have been busy playing cricket in the lead-up to the World Cup.

India won the Asia Cup two weeks ago before defeating Australia at home in a three-match series last week. This means that the team is already well-prepared for the World Cup, and a rain-washed warm-up match is unlikely to derail their campaign.

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India scored a massive 350-5 after being put into bat and was helped by centuries from Virat Kohli (117) and KL Rahul (108). As Pakistan was knocked out for 122 in 32 overs, Kuldeep Yadav impressed with the ball, getting 5 for 28.

Rahul and Kohli put on a 224-run stand for the second wicket while playing at their very best. Rahul reached his 6thODI century, while Kohli recorded his 47th ODI century.

The basis of India’s innings was the partnership between Kohli and Rahul.

The two batters put up the biggest partnership in Asia Cup history, a 224-run stand for the second wicket. Rahul reached his sixth ODI century, while Kohli recorded his 47th ODI century.

Strong defense and planned attack served as the foundation of the relationship. While Kohli and Rahul hardly ever took chances, they were always looking to score runs when the chance arose. They successfully rotated the strike as well, which enabled them to forge a strong partnership.

The match’s turning point came with the partnership. At 123-2, India was in a little difficulty, but Kohli and Rahul helped to steady the ship and set the stage for a large total.

The partnership was a joy to watch and it showed why Kohli and Rahul are two of the best batsmen in the world. It was a match-winning partnership and it helped India to register their biggest win against Pakistan in Asia Cup history.

Kuldeep Yadav was once again India’s best bowler, taking five wickets.

Kuldeep Yadav was once again India’s best bowler, taking five wickets for 25 runs. He was the pick of the bowlers for India, as he was able to deceive the Pakistan batsmen with his variations. He got the ball to turn and bounce, which made it difficult for the batsmen to score runs.

Yadav dismissed Fakhar Zaman, Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, and Faheem Ashraf. He was able to get the better of all the Pakistan batsmen, and his performance was a major factor in India’s win.

Yadav has been in good form in recent months, and he is now one of India’s most important bowlers in ODI cricket. He is a difficult bowler to face, and he is always a threat to take wickets. His performance against Pakistan was another reminder of his quality, and he will be a key player for India in the upcoming matches.

Pakistan’s batting was once again found wanting.

Pakistan’s batting was once again found wanting. The team was bundled out for 128, their lowest total in Asia Cup history. The batting was brittle and the top order failed to provide any sort of resistance.

Fakhar Zaman top-scored with 27, but the rest of the batsmen failed to make an impact. Babar Azam, who is considered one of the best batsmen in the world, was dismissed for just 10.

The Pakistan batsmen were unable to cope with the Indian bowlers, who were disciplined and accurate. Kuldeep Yadav was the pick of the bowlers, taking five wickets for 25 runs.

Pakistan’s batting has been a concern for some time now. The team has struggled to score runs in recent matches, and this was another example of their batting woes. If Pakistan wants to win the Asia Cup, they will need their batsmen to step up and score runs.

Here are some of the reasons why Pakistan’s batting was found wanting:

The batsmen were not able to adapt to the conditions. The pitch was slow and turning, and the Pakistan batsmen were not able to score runs against the spin.

The batsmen were not able to rotate the strike. They were too defensive and did not take enough risks.

The batsmen were not able to build partnerships. They kept losing wickets at regular intervals, which made it difficult for them to score runs.

Pakistan‘s batting needs to improve if they want to win the Asia Cup. The batsmen need to be more aggressive and take more risks. They also need to be able to adapt to different conditions.

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As the India-Pakistan match is set for October 14, adjustments have been made to the dual-header Saturday schedule. The New Zealand-Bangladesh day fixture, initially planned for October 14 in Chennai, will now occur as a day-night game on October 13. In a similar vein, the England-Afghanistan match in Delhi has been rescheduled for October 15. These changes have also prompted the Australia-South Africa match in Lucknow to be shifted forward by a day, now taking place on October 12.

The match schedule leading up to the India-Pakistan game has undergone alterations. Pakistan’s encounter against Sri Lanka in Hyderabad, initially set for October 12, has been rescheduled to take place on October 10. Furthermore, England’s match against Bangladesh in Dharamsala on October 10 has transitioned from a daytime fixture to a day-night event. This adjustment has been made to accommodate the Pakistan-Sri Lanka match, thus creating a double-header on Tuesday, October 10.

Additionally, modifications have been made to the double-header towards the conclusion of the league stage. The two games, Australia vs Bangladesh in Pune and England vs Pakistan in Kolkata, previously scheduled for November 12, have been shifted to November 11. Simultaneously, the India-Netherlands fixture has exchanged places with them and will now occur on November 12.

The ODI World Cup will commence with a match between the 2019 edition finalists, England and New Zealand, in Ahmedabad. The tournament will culminate at the same venue on November 19.

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On the other hand, India has made no changes to their final squad, except for the withdrawal of KL Rahul due to an injury. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar, and Suryakumar Yadav have been named as standby players for the Indian team. The powerful squads of both teams promise to make the upcoming five-day final a thrilling encounter.

For those interested in watching the World Test Championship final between India and Australia, here are the live-streaming details:

IND vs AUS WTC Final 2023 Squads

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, David Warner

Standby players: Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Renshaw

India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Ishan Kishan (wk)

Standby players: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar, Suryakumar Yadav

IND vs AUS WTC Final Live Streaming Details

The Star Sports Network holds the broadcasting rights for the World Test Championship final in India. All Star Sports channels will telecast the live coverage of the India vs. Australia WTC final 2023. In Australia, the final match will be broadcasted by Fox Sports from June 7 to June 11.

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