KOLKATA: Generally you play to your power and typically you play in your opponents’ weak spot. India skipper Rohit Sharma maybe opted for the latter towards South Africa on the Eden Gardens right here on Sunday.
Batting first on this World Cup, South Africa had scores of 428, 311, 399, 382 and 357. And every time, they gained by greater than 100 runs.However whereas chasing, they misplaced to Netherlands and narrowly escaped with a one-wicket win towards Pakistan.
However no matter could be the rationale behind the decision, on the finish of the day, the Indian juggernaut saved rolling because the Males in Blue thrashed South Africa by 243 runs to make it eight-out-of-eight wins on this ICC ODI World Cup.
The packed Eden obtained all that it had wished for because the followers not solely loved one other dominating India win but in addition grew to become a part of historical past witnessing Virat Kohli equalling Sachin Tendulkar‘s forty ninth ODI hundred, the best on this format, on his thirty fifth birthday.
Cricket World Cup 2023: India crush South Africa by 243 runs, prolong profitable streak to eight matches in ODI World Cup
The Indian bowlers then turned this potential blockbuster right into a one-sided affair by bowling out South Africa for 83 solely in 27.1 overs.
On a tough pitch the place shot-making was not straightforward, Kohli confirmed character to remain until the top remaining undefeated on 101 to take India to 326 for 5. He even foresaw the end result after the primary innings when he acknowledged, “In accordance with me, the full is nicely above par.”
Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami and Ravindra Jadeja all picked up wickets of their first overs as South Africa misplaced the plot early after being diminished to 40 for 5 within the 14th over. Solely on Saturday, India head coach Rahul Dravid had stated, “due to how good our seamers have been and the way unbelievable it has been to look at them upfront, the performances of individuals like Jaddu (Jadeja) and Kuldeep (Yadav) have most likely gone barely unnoticed.”
Jadeja as soon as once more bowled that nagging wicket-to-wicket line that noticed him return with 5 for 33 in his 9 overs. Kuldeep completed with two for seven in his 5.1 overs that included one maiden too.
Whereas Shami picked two for 18, Siraj obtained one for 11.
In distinction, South Africa bowlers have been method beneath common. Besides Keshav Maharaj, not one of the others might create any influence. Whereas South Africa’s highest wicket-taker on this World Cup, left-arm pacer Marco Jansen bowled all over, Tabraiz Shamsi, coming instead of Gerald Coetzee, by no means obtained his line proper straying principally down the leg.
The state of affairs additionally uncovered the truth that the Proteas lacked a significant sixth bowler. South Africa have been responsible of bowling 22 wides and two no balls thereby giving India the posh of taking part in 4 additional overs.
Earlier, the Indian innings was orchestrated by Kohli whereas Shreyas Iyer hit his second successive half-century to ascertain his credentials for a everlasting spot within the taking part in XI. The Kolkata Knight Riders skipper was completely happy to be again at ‘dwelling’ as he hit an 87-ball 77 with the assistance of seven fours and two sixes.
After Rohit and Gill have been off to a flying begin, Iyer offered steam to the innings by being concerned in a 134-run third-wicket stand with Kohli that took India to a place of power.
