Image Credit- Getty
India had no business having the anxiety
it did during their 397-run defence, but in the end, they waltzed into the
final and made light of the alleged knockout pressure. They are now just one
victory away from potentially having the most successful World Cup campaign
ever. They are currently leading by an average of 175 runs with 64.4 balls left
and 6.4 wickets taken. With 89.2 balls left, eight wickets, and 147.67 runs,
Australia emerged victorious in 2007.
By achieving this, Virat Kohli reached an incredible
milestone—his 50th ODI century—in front of his spouse, Sachin Tendulkar, the
man he passed, and the location of the symbolic torch-passing that took place
12 years ago when he carried Tendulkar on his shoulders. With three World Cups
under his belt, Shreyas Iyer achieved the third-fastest century by an Indian
player at 67 balls, marking his second consecutive century.
Rohit Sharma, who is selfless, is credited with one of
those three centuries. He started India’s innings with a brilliant 47 off 29,
marking the ninth occasion this year that he has scored in the 40s, 80s, or
90s—the joint-highest total for a calendar year.
India’s highest total in a World Cup knockout match is
hardly surprising, since the pitch has showed the most variation in bowling
friendliness from afternoon to evening this year. There was always going to be
plenty of room for scoring. As anticipated, there was no swing or seam in the
afternoon but significant movement in the air and off the surface, a surprising
prodigious turn, and no dew. However, Daryl Mitchell hit an almost unthinkable
134 off 119, only to be stopped by Mohammed Shami’s 7 for 57.
You can’t blame India for the breaks they received
given the circumstances: since the 2011 Mohali semi-final, this was just their
second victory in nine elimination games during the limited-overs World Cup.
Even before the crowd had gathered, Rohit turned this
little smaller edge into a legitimate lead. In the powerplays this World Cup,
he already has the most runs, strikeout percentage, average, sixes, and fours.
It wouldn’t be surprising if he had a few sighters in a slow-pitch semi-final,
but he got things rolling in the opening over, showboating a length ball over
midwicket to build his own momentum for the shot.
India’s top five currently average more in a World Cup
than any other team, but their greatest achievement has been adhering to their
duties. It has been Rohit’s responsibility to maximise; Shuman Gill and Kohli
can handle accumulation. Rohit’s individual score is irrelevant. As he
attempted to knock a fifth six on 47, a slower ball from Tim Southee brought
him down.
Gill, Kohli’s likely successor, assumed the role of
aggressor to give the captain more time to focus on his duties, twelve years
after Kohli had hoisted Tendulkar on his shoulders as a sign of gratitude for
carrying the team. But, Gill retired
hurt, appearing to have cramps, with a century up for grabs.
With KL Rahul’s 39 off 20 adding the final touches,
India took 110 off the final 10 overs. It was unexpected that India would
require so many runs at that stage, which emphasises the significance of
Rohit’s every start and the new team management’s emphasis on it.
Jasprit Bumrah’s beginnings are precisely what
demonstrate his humanity: Three overs, 22 runs, lots of width, and five wides.
first-alteration But Shami turned out to be the batters’ worst nightmare. He
played with the two left-hand openers right around the wicket, nipping it just
enough to have them caught at the wicket in his opening two overs.
India was somewhat relieved by it and was able to
debut Ravindra Jadeja at an early age in case there was a delay. Amazingly,
Mitchell continued to hit them down the ground, including the biggest six of
the competition, even after both of the spinners found turn off the pitch.
Meetings grew longer, faces were strained, a catch went down, a potential
run-out was missed when Rahul broke the wicket too soon, and Mitchell and Kane
Williamson added 181 for the third wicket. You could tell things had gotten bad
when Mitchell drove the returning Bumrah off-road for six.
However, Shami came back with a double-strike: first a
slower ball that Williamson grabbed at deep square leg, and then a brilliant
seam to hit Tom Latham’s kneeroll with the second ball. India could return to
using spinners and increase the asking rate pressure now that Glenn Phillips is
aboard. By the 37th over, it was past 12 and New Zealand was losing the battle
because Mitchell was cramping and India was cleverly keeping the ball out of
his reach.