In a major achievement, 'perfect' India on Sunday defeated New Zealand by four wickets in Sunday´s top-of-the-table World Cup clash at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.
The crucial win means that India is now the only team in the World Cup 2023 that has not lost a single match.
Chasing the target of 274 runs, Rohit Sharma did what he does best and provided the Blues with a rapid start as they were 63-0 in the first 10 overs.
Although “The Hitman” could not complete his well-deserved half-century once again, losing his wicket to Lockie Ferguson for 46 runs, the 36-year-old had done his job by taking India ahead of the required run rate.
Sharma’s quick start gave the remaining Indian batters much-needed room to build partnerships and play according to the situation and that is what Virat Kohli did with KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja.
Kohli scored well-executed 95 runs and ensured India’s fifth win in the World Cup, which was needed as their next match is against the struggling English side in Lucknow. He was supported by Jadeja, who built a 78-run with the 34-year-old.
Fair to say, all of the Indian batters performed well, except Suryakumar Yadav who got run out unluckily for just two runs.
Batting first, New Zealand lost two early wickets for 19 runs but a 159-run partnership between Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell saved the day for the Black Caps, who looked helpless in front of the Indian bowling attack at the start.
The Black Caps kept on losing wickets at intervals but Mitchell stood and scored 130 off 127 balls, taking the Kiwis to a competitive 273-run total.
Mohammad Shami was the pick of the bowlers for India as the pacer took a fifer, 5-54, in his first match of this World Cup.
India will play England next on October 29 in Lucknow while New Zealand will take on Australia on October 28 in Dharamshala.
India: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj
New Zealand: Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Tom Latham (capt/wk), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Mark Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult
Umpires: Michael Gough (IND), Richard Kettleborough (IND)
TV Umpire: Paul Wilson (AUS)
Match Referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)
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