In Sunday's (October 29) ODI World Cup match, India secured a remarkable 100-run victory over England, with Rohit Sharma playing a pivotal role. This victory marked India's sixth consecutive win in the tournament, solidifying their position as the only unbeaten team in the competition.
Captain Rohit led by example, scoring a crucial 87 runs off 101 deliveries on a challenging pitch. Apart from Rohit's exceptional innings, the other Indian batsmen also made significant contributions. Suryakumar Yadav added valuable 49 runs, guiding India to a total of 229/9 in their allotted 50 overs.
However, the real heroes of the match were the Indian bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami. They displayed exceptional skills and teamwork to dismantle England's batting lineup. Bumrah, with his impeccable yorkers and precision, claimed three crucial wickets, conceding 32 runs. Shami, on the other hand, wreaked havoc, taking four wickets while giving away only 22 runs in his seven overs.
England, chasing a target of 230 runs, struggled throughout their innings and were eventually bowled out for just 129 runs in 34.5 overs. This defeat was England's fifth in the tournament and also ending their chances of qualifying for the semi-finals.
In the bowling department, Kuldeep Yadav shone brightly, not only taking important wickets but also creating a stir during the match. In the 22nd over, there was a contentious moment when a delivery seemed to hit Liam Livingstone's pad, potentially leading to a lbw dismissal. India chose not to review the decision, but the replay showed that the ball was on track to hit the stumps.
This decision led to a heated exchange between Rohit and Kuldeep on the field. Rohit expressed his frustration, stating that Kuldeep should have been more forceful in urging for the review. While Kuldeep acknowledged his mistake later, the timing had already passed.
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Despite this minor controversy, India's overall performance showcased their exceptional form in the tournament. With this win, India maintained their position at the top of the World Cup 2023 points table, accumulating 12 points with a net run rate of +1.405.
In contrast, England continued to struggle, remaining at the bottom of the table with just two points from their first six matches and a net run rate of -1.652.
This victory for India not only solidified their position as tournament frontrunners but also highlighted the remarkable skills and determination of their players, both in batting and bowling. As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on India as they aim for their third World Cup title.
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