India secured their fourth consecutive victory at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 (CWC23). Virat Kohli, the No.3 batsman clinched his century with a six, sealing a convincing seven-wicket win over Bangladesh.
Kohli’s stellar performance not only revolved around his match-defining batting contribution but also saw him make a rare appearance as a bowler, delivering three medium-pace deliveries after Hardik Pandya suffered an injury.
This triumphant result has propelled India to the top of the table, sharing the spot with New Zealand, both having won all four of their games to date. The Kiwis lead the pack due to their superior net run rate.
India began their pursuit of 257 with a rapid start, amassing 63 runs without losing a wicket in the first powerplay. Rohit Sharma displayed excellent form, reaching 37 runs from his initial 33 balls. However, Hasan Mahmud dismissed the Indian skipper just short of a half-century, with Rohit being caught for 48.
Kohli’s arrival accelerated the scoring pace, smashing two early boundaries. Shubman Gill also played a classy inning, reaching a half-century before departing for 53. Shreyas Iyer and Kohli joined forces, taking India to 161/2 at the halfway point of their innings, firmly in control of the chase.
Kohli continued to dominate the Bangladesh attack, becoming the second Indian batsman to reach a half-century. KL Rahul partnered with him, and the duo secured the victory with 51 balls to spare.
Rahul contributed with an unbeaten run-a-ball 34, but the spotlight was on Kohli as he reached his hundred, marking his third Cricket World Cup century in an illustrious career.
Earlier, Bangladesh’s stand-in skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and chose to bat first. They faced the challenge without two key players, Shakib Al Hasan and Taskin Ahmed, both sidelined due to injury. Nevertheless, openers Tanzid Hasan and Litton Das provided an impressive start for the Tigers, setting a solid foundation after a cautious initial phase.
Hardik Pandya’s injury further complicated the situation for the host nation. Kohli stepped in to complete Pandya’s over, earning applause from the Pune crowd. However, Pandya’s inability to bowl again in the innings raises concerns for India as the tournament progresses.
India regrouped during the second powerplay, and their spinners effectively controlled the run rate and took crucial wickets. Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja made significant breakthroughs, with Mahmudullah being the standout performer for Bangladesh.
Bangladesh managed to post a total of 256/8, providing their bowlers with a target to defend. Nevertheless, India’s top five batsmen put up a dominating performance, securing a comfortable win.
With their third consecutive loss, Bangladesh now faces a slim margin for error in the race for a crucial top-four finish. In the individual rankings, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli lead the way as the top two run-scorers in the tournament, while Jasprit Bumrah is closely trailing New Zealand’s Mitch Santner in the wicket-taking charts with 10 wickets.
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