(Image Source: Instagram – ICC)
[Saba Sports News] The Netherlands faced a significant 160-run defeat against India in their final league match of the ODI World Cup 2023 at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Despite ending at the bottom of the table, the team, led by Scott Edwards, displayed commendable performances, notably winning against South Africa and Bangladesh. They narrowly missed qualifying for the Champions Trophy 2025.
Following their last game, the Dutch players were seen acknowledging the crowd’s support. In a notable post-match moment, Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli gifted his jersey to Roelof van der Merwe, his former Royal Challengers Bangalore teammate. This gesture was captured and shared by the ICC on Instagram, quickly gaining widespread attention on social media.
Merwe Praises India’s Balanced Team India, led by Rohit Sharma, has been formidable in the tournament, winning all nine matches. They are set to face New Zealand in the semi-final, a team known for its strength in knockout matches against India. Merwe commended India’s well-balanced squad, highlighting their abundance of match-winners, making them a tough competitor. However, he noted the challenge India faces against the other strong semifinalists, including South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia.
Merwe, speaking at the post-match conference, acknowledged the consistent performance of the other teams but emphasized that India, with its array of match-winners and current form, stands a good chance in the upcoming matches. “India is a well-balanced side with match-winners throughout. They’ve proven this in the World Cup so far. They’ll be tough to beat, but the other semifinalists also have strong teams,” said the 38-year-old.