Mohammad Shami is the only Indian bowler to have three five-wicket hauls in the Cricket World Cup. Only Mitchell Starc of Australia has taken three five-wicket hauls in the tournament besides the Indian pacer
Our Bureau
Mumbai
India marched to a comfortable yet comprehensive 302-run victory over Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium as they restricted the Lions to a total of 55 runs. Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj stood out with their exceptional spells in the bowling department while Virat Kohli, Shubamn Gill and Shreyas Iyer led the charge with the bat in the first innings and powered India to a massive total of 357/8.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed “unstoppable” India for their exceptional seven-match unbeaten run in the ongoing World Cup and for becoming the first team to qualify for the semi-final on Thursday. Modi hailed India’s performance against Sri Lanka and wrote on X, “Team India is unstoppable in the World Cup! Congratulations to the team on a stellar victory against Sri Lanka! It was a display of exceptional teamwork and tenacity.”
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah hailed the all-round performance from the Indian team and wrote, “What a sensational performance by #TeamIndia in the #CWC2023! 7 wins in 7 games – a testament to exceptional prowess and strong determination. Congratulations to @imVkohli and @ShubmanGill for their fantastic half-centuries, and the relentless bowling department, led by @MdShami11, @mdsirajofficial and, @Jaspritbumrah93 for their exceptional performances. You have made India proud, and our support is unwavering! @BCCI.”
‘Master blaster’ Sachin Tendulkar was a bit nostalgic after India’s performance at Wankhede Stadium and wrote, “A special win in a special game! #TeamIndia dominated in every department today with their spectacular performances just like they’ve been doing in this #CWC23. India winning at Wankhede against Sri Lanka in a World Cup game gives me a feeling of deja vu.”
“No Rocket Science” behind Shami’s success
Mohammed Shami feels that the success he has had with the white ball for India is no “rocket science” but just a matter of finding the right line length and keeping the rhythm.
Shami claimed his second 5-wicket haul in the ongoing World Cup powering India to the semi-finals following a sensational display with the bat in the first innings. His spell was crucial against Sri Lanka as the Lions succumbed to a total of 55 and lost the game by 302 runs at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.
For the first few games, he was unable to find a place in the playing XI, but after his arrival, he has become an irreplaceable cog in India’s machinery.
In three games the experienced speedster has claimed 14 scalps in the ongoing campaign helping India to assert dominance with the ball. After producing a match-winning performance Shami talked about the reason that has contributed to the success he has had in the tournament so far.
In the match against Sri Lanka, Shami took five wickets for 18 runs in five overs, with one maiden. He overtook Indian pace legends Zaheer Khan and Javagal Srinath (44 wickets) to become India’s highest wicket-taker in World Cup history.
In the Cricket World Cup, Shami has a total of 45 wickets in just 14 matches, with the best figures of 5/18. Shami is the sixth-highest wicket-taker in WC history, with the highest being Australia’s Glenn McGrath (71 wickets in 39 matches).
Shami is the only Indian bowler to have three five-wicket hauls in the Cricket World Cup. Only Mitchell Starc of Australia has taken three five-wicket hauls in the tournament besides the Indian pacer.
“Time for India to start celebrating their fast bowlers”
Pakistan’s iconic speedster Shoaib Akhtar showered praises on India’s pace trio after they orchestrated a 302-run victory against Sri Lanka in the ongoing World Cup on Thursday at the Wankhede Stadium. Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami combined to take nine wickets and finished off the game with more than 30 overs to go.
The ‘Rawalpindi Express’ was impressed with the overall performance of the three pacers as they reduced Sri Lanka to a score of 55 and clinch a thumping victory. “India is becoming a ruthless side from this point the onslaught cannot be stopped but my request to Indians is to start celebrating your fast bowlers because everyone was happy and there was a lot of noise on each delivery at the Wankhede Stadium. I am personally happy for Shami he has found his rhythm back he has claimed so many wickets and has surpassed, Siraj is running, Bumrah is lethal he is giving them comfort to both of them to bowl freely,” Shoaib said in a video posted on X.
Shreyas Iyer defends his pull shots
Shreyas Iyer who produced a match-winning performance for the Indian team in their thumping 302-run victory over Sri Lanka on Thursday in the ongoing World Cup, snapped at a reporter during the post-match press conference.
Iyer played a sensational knock of 82 in the middle overs to steer India to a massive total of 357/8 in the first innings. He displayed a variety of shots from his arsenal, which also included pull shots.
In recent times, Iyer has lost his wickets a number of times while attempting to play a pull shot. This was noticed in the Aisa Cup during India’s encounter with arch-rival Pakistan.
In the post-match press conference, Iyer was quizzed about short ball being a problem for him and Iyer in reply snapped at the reporter and said, “When you say it’s a problem for me what do you mean?”
The reporter rephrased his question and asked “Not a problem, problem exactly but it has troubled you.”
To which Iyer replied, “Troubled me? Have you seen how many pull shots I’ve scored? Especially which has gone for four.”
Iyer went on to state that as batters they can get out on any delivery whether it is a short delivery or an over-pitched delivery.
“If you’re trying to hit a ball, you’re bound to get out anyway. Irrespective it’s a short ball, it’s an over pitch. If I get bowled two or three times, you all would say that, OK, he can’t play an in-swinging ball. He can’t play a cut if a ball is seeming,” Iyer said.
“So, see, we, as players are bound to get out on any sort of deliveries. You guys have created that environment outside that he can’t play a short ball. And I feel that people are picking that up every now and then and it plays on your mind regularly and you keep working on that,” Iyer added.
Iyer then went on to say that on a surface like Wankhede where he has played a lot of cricket, he knows how to tackle the delivery. Even if some of his shots work or don’t it doesn’t mean that a particular delivery becomes his weakness.
Kohli surpasses Sachin’s record in ODI
India’s stalwart batter Virat Kohli surpassed iconic Sachin Tendulkar’s record by becoming the batter with the most thousand runs scored in a single year in the ODI format. Former India captain however failed to match Sachin’s record of most ODI centuries (49).
Virat crossed the one thousand run mark in the 50-over format against his favourite opposition Sri Lanka in the ongoing World Cup on Thursday at the Wankhede Stadium.
In his decorated career, Virat crossed the four-digit mark for the eighth time which came during 2011-14, 2017-19 and 2023.
Sachin crossed the four-digit mark in a single year in the ODI format seven times in 1994, 1996-98, 2000, 2003 and 2007.
Kohli’s knock of 88(94) was his 10th 50-plus score in the ODI this year. Shubman Gill is leading the chart with twelve 50-plus ODI scores in 2023.
Virat’s game-changing knock against the Lions also brought up his 118th 50-plus score in the ODI format.
Virat and Gill’s 189-run stand was India’s second-highest partnership against Sri Lanka in World Cups. The first spot still belongs to Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly’s sensational partnership of 318 runs at Taunton in 1999.
Virat was on the brink of matching Sachin’s record of 49 ODI centuries but Dilshan Madushanka got the better of him with a slower delivery. He timed it a tad early and aimed it towards short cover, Pathum Nissanka dived low to take a stunning catch.
Kohli and Gill’s partnership laid down a strong base for India to put up a massive total against Sri Lanka and secure their place in the semi-finals.
