In the ongoing men’s ODI World Cup, Team India has unquestionably asserted their dominance, securing victory in all eight matches thus far. Their opponents have proven feeble in comparison, and this trend continued when the Men In Blue confronted the second-placed South Africa, whom they dismantled with a resounding 243-run margin.
While it was an exhibition of collective prowess, Virat Kohli, in particular, had cause for celebration in India’s triumph. Bestowed with the title of Player of the Match for his unbeaten century, Kohli also etched his name alongside the illustrious Sachin Tendulkar by notching the highest number of centuries in ODIs.
Shreyas Iyer’s contribution cannot be overlooked, as his composed 77 off 87 deliveries, including a century partnership with Kohli for the third wicket, propelled India to a formidable total of 326/5. This substantial score was initiated by Rohit Sharma’s explosive opening.
Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir, offering his insights on this stellar display, commended the pairing of Kohli and Iyer, remarking that they batted on an entirely different plane of excellence. Gambhir underscored the duo’s ability to adapt to progressively deteriorating pitch conditions, and in his estimation, their performance deserved greater accolades than those of Shubman Gill and Rohit, who provided a quick 62-run opening stand.
Gambhir articulated, “I believe Shreyas Iyer and Virat Kohli batted on a different planet. This was not the typical scenario seen at venues like Wankhede or Delhi, where batting conditions remain favorable throughout the innings. Here, the conditions progressively shifted from an easy start to a challenging middle and end. Therefore, I hold that Shreyas Iyer and Virat Kohli merit more recognition than Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill.”
He further emphasized the pivotal role of spin, noting, “Spin was poised to be the most formidable challenge. The manner in which the two of them faced off against Keshav Maharaj, even though he conceded a mere 30 runs, the significant aspect was his solitary wicket, which prompted South Africa to reintroduce their pace bowlers.”
On the bowling front, Ravindra Jadeja assumed the role of the chief architect, orchestrating a five-wicket haul. Riding on his clinical bowling, India dismantled South Africa for a paltry 83 runs in 27.1 overs.
