Unbeaten in World Cup 2023, India confirmed the top spot on the points table with their 8th consecutive win in this World Cup. India equaled their longest win streak in World Cups, which was created in 2003.
A special ton on a special day, Virat Kohli gives 1.5 billion fans a record 49 Kodiai ton at the very ground where he scored his first international ton. With this, Kohli equals Sachin’s record for the most Kodiai tons in ODIs, but with way fewer innings.
Some of the best players against Spin in this World Cup, the famed South African middle order of Klassen and Miller fall to Rabindranath Deja. Roy Sharma again goes big in the power play, and equals AB’s mark with the most sixes in a calendar year, before falling to Rabada.
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India ended the power play on 91 for 1, 17 boundaries. 8 victories on the chart, and India’s unbeaten record at this edition of the World Cup remains intact. But along with that, they also managed to set a record for the longest streak of World Cup victories. Team India, you beauty.
It was supposed to be a contest between the best versus the best. India taking on South Africa at the Eden Gardens. Two teams were right at the top of the table, and how did it all pan out? Well, India batted first, and Rohit Sharma came out all guns blazing.
He got 40 but got India to a terrific start. Then in the middle, when India did lose Shubman Gill’s wicket and Rohit Sharma’s wicket, things did slow down, but Shreyas Iyer and Virat Kohli changed their gears.
Virat Kohli getting to his 49th ODI century, thereby equaling his hero, the master blaster’s record of 49 ODI centuries himself. Shreyas got 77, and India posted 326 on the board. Could South Africa get to 327? Well, not really, because that batting never turned up. South Africa were all out for 83, giving India victory by 243 runs. 243 runs to win Jadeja becoming the second Indian spinner to get five wickets at the victory was oh so sweet.
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The king got to his 49th ODI century, thereby equaling the record of master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, and on his 35th birthday, he gave a return gift to the legion of fans who showed him support and love. No wonder, Virat Kohli is the top performer of the match.
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Virat Kohli is the top performer of the match. One of the moments very few can create. He’s a man with his own strength. Many happy returns of the day to Virat Kohli on his 35th birthday, his 49th ODI century, and the 15th time that he’s set up the Indian batting. 49 hundred.
He’s still not finished yet. That’s quite special. To equal my hero’s record in One Day International is something that is a huge honor for me. I’m never going to be as good as him. There’s a reason why we’ve all looked up to him. He’s perfection when it comes to batting.
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He’s always going to be my hero regardless of what happens. It’s a very emotional moment for me. The days that I’ve watched him play on TV, just to stand here and get this appreciation from someone like him means a lot to me.
Joining us now on Match Point is someone who called it in the commentary box when Virat Kohli got to that 100th. Irfan, your words will resonate for years to come, but in the kind of conditions on offer at the Eden Gardens, Virat Kohli getting that 100th, what are your thoughts? And also on the fact that he equals the master, Sachin Tendulkar’s record.
I think it’s a big, big moment for team Indian fans because when great Sunil Gavaskar was playing, it was like a relay race which has been passed on to great Sachin Tendulkar, that baton. And then from great Sachin Tendulkar, that baton has now passed to great Virat Kohli, chase master Virat Kohli.
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So I think it’s the most emotional moment. I’ve been part of the game because I’ve been broadcasting for the last six years, but this is the moment, probably I prepared when I was doing commentary in Hindi as well, for literally three months now because I know that this moment will come, but you don’t know when it’s going to come. And I’m glad that it came against South Africa.
I’m glad the way it came because Virat had to work really hard because the pitch wasn’t easy, especially in the middle overs. Maharaj was bowling really well. So counter those fast bowling, which is the second-best bowling unit in the tournament as far as I’m concerned.
He counted really well and it came at the right time. And when you see Virat Kohli lifting his hands after applauding the fans, there was some sort of calmness on his face, which was great to see because even he was waiting, but more than him, the world was waiting for his 4900.
And we are lucky to have two greats of the game standing on an equal number of centuries. We are very lucky. A hundred on his 35th birthday and a century to savor for many, many years to come.
Mind also goes back to the century that Sachin scored in 1998, 134 against Australia, and that’s what champions do. But overall, it was a completely dominant team performance from Team India.
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Let’s take a look at the story of the match. But the top-of-the-table clash deserved some high-octane entertainment and Rohit Sharma provided the fireworks. Rohit’s 24-ball 40 gave the Indian innings a big impetus and one that shocked the proteas.
After Rohit’s cameo, it was time for birthday boy Virat Kohli to take control of the proceedings. The two started to build the innings with caution and the next 20 overs saw only 88 runs being scored, with Kohli getting to his 15th.
Virat Kohli half a century on his birthday, cleared and got to lose. Straight up, still inside the circle, taken. Virat’s team focused on converting this into a big one and gave 1.5 billion Indians the perfect gift on his 35th birthday.
Cameos like Surya Kumar Yadav and Rabindra Sudeja took the score past the 300-run mark, well above par on this pitch. The top run-getter of the World Cup, Vincent de Kock started the chase with a crisp shot but got dismissed the next ball. From there on, the visiting Indian bowling proved too much for the proteas and they started to crumble under pressure.
Rabindra Sudeja got his maiden fight for the World Cup and registered his best ODI figures to scuttle South Africa for 83 runs, their biggest defeat in ODIs. India is standing again.
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Surya Kumar Yadav and Rabindra Sudeja took the score past the 300-run mark, well above par on this pitch. Surya Kumar Yadav and Rabindra Sudeja took the score past the 300-run mark, well above par on this pitch.
Surya Kumar Yadav and Rabindra Sudeja took the score past the 300-run mark, well above par on this pitch. Surya Kumar Yadav and Rabindra Sudeja took the score past the 300-run mark, well above par on this pitch.
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