India’s remarkable performance in the last 10 overs of the New Zealand innings played a pivotal role in their crucial victory in Dharamsala during the 2023 World Cup group stage.
India solidified their position at the top of the table in the 2023 World Cup group stage with a thrilling four-wicket triumph over New Zealand in Dharamsala on Sunday. This clash, considered India’s most significant challenge in the tournament, witnessed moments when the home team was pushed to their limits. Yet, they emerged victorious with two overs to spare. This win also marked their first victory over New Zealand in the World Cup since 2003, and the standout factor behind this achievement, despite a splendid performance by Virat Kohli in the chase, was the return of Mohammed Shami, who claimed a five-wicket haul.
New Zealand appeared poised to post a score well above 300, thanks to the formidable 159-run partnership between Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell for the third wicket, achieved in just 152 balls. This partnership effectively nullified India’s spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja, who had been instrumental in causing middle-order collapses in previous matches.
While Mitchell went on to score 130 runs off 127 balls, India staged a remarkable recovery in the last 10 overs. This pressured the Kiwis, who had been at 178/2 at one stage, to eventually fold for 273 runs. Shami played a pivotal role in this recovery, claiming three wickets in his final two overs, including two in consecutive deliveries. Notably, this was Shami’s first match in this year’s tournament, brought in as cover for the injured all-rounder Hardik Pandya, alongside Suryakumar Yadav.
Former India star Suresh Raina strongly believes that Shami should retain his place in the squad, even if Pandya returns for India’s upcoming match against England in Lucknow on Sunday. “Shami, (Mohammed) Siraj, (Jasprit) Bumrah, Jadeja, Kuldeep, Hardik – this, I feel, is the best combination for this World Cup,” he expressed on Aaj Tak.
Enhancing the death overs bowling options Throughout the tournament, India had predominantly relied on Bumrah, Siraj, and Pandya as their primary pacers, with Shardul Thakur serving as the fourth seamer. To accommodate Shami and Suryakumar on Sunday, Thakur was omitted from the playing XI, and his absence was felt during the Mitchell-Ravindra partnership in the middle overs. Raina emphasizes that retaining Shami in the team, even after Pandya’s return, would provide Captain Rohit Sharma with an additional weapon in the latter stages of an opposition’s innings, as was evident against New Zealand.
“Now that Shami has claimed this five-wicket haul, Rohit has more options with three aggressive bowlers who can operate effectively in the death overs. It also eases the pressure on Hardik, as when these three bowlers are in action, it relieves some of the pressure. Hardik can then create pressure in his own distinctive way,” Raina pointed out.
Kuldeep faced a tough time against Mitchell and Ravindra in the middle overs but made a strong comeback later by dismissing the dangerous pair of New Zealand captain Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips. Raina commended Kuldeep and Jadeja’s performance, particularly highlighting Kuldeep’s crucial dismissal of Tom Latham. He applauded Rohit’s strategic use of bowlers and lauded Shami’s impressive five-wicket haul.
India’s remarkable win and the evolving bowling combination have set the stage for an exciting and competitive 2023 World Cup.
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