Mumbai: Opting to bat first, hosts India were 382/4 in 49.1 overs against New Zealand in the first Semi-final of the ICC ODI Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 at Wankhede Stadium, here on Wednesday.
Team India captain Rohit Sharma, who hit a quick fire 47 in 29 balls, with four boundaries and four huge sixes, was caught by Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson of right-arm pacer Tim Southee. With Rohit's dismissal, there was a sudden pin-drop silence in the packed Wankhede Stadium.
After the Rohit storm, it was up to young opener Shubman Gill and seasoned Virat Kohli to steady the Indian innings.
Virat Kohli not only anchored the Indian innings but also scored his 50th ODI hundred to go past Sachin Tendulkar's 49th ODI ton record.
Kohli also went past Sachin Tendulkar's run-tally of 673 at the 2003 World Cup, the most in a single edition of the 50-over World Cup till date.
Tendulkar, who was at Wankhede Stadium watching the match, stood up and applauded Kohli's efforts.
But Gill after scoring 79 in 68 balls, returned to the pavilion retired hurt with cramps. Inform Shreyas Iyer then joined Kohli in the middle.
Iyer continued his last innings form against the Netherlands and scored a century, his second consecutiv ton in ODI World Cup.
Kohli was finally dismissed by Tim Southee, caught at deep square leg by Devon Conway. He scored 123 in 117 in 113 balls, hitting 9 boundaries and 2 sixes.
India lost its 2nd wicket at 327, after losing the first one at 71, when Rohit had departed.
Trying to accelerate Iyer (105 in 70 balls, with 4 boundaries and 8 sixes) and Surya Kumar Yadav (1 in 2 balls) departed.
But it was Kiwi left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, who somewhat halted India's middle overs rampage and pulled back the hosts with his superb second spell.
India XI:
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (Wicket-keeper), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj.
New Zealand XI:
Kane Williamson (Captain), Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (Wicket-keeper), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson and Trent Boult.
