In a high-stakes encounter at the Cricket World Cup 2023, India’s bowlers made a formidable impact, pushing South Africa on the backfoot with only 40 runs on the board in their chase of 327. The South African team faced a disastrous start, dwindling to 35/3 at the end of the first powerplay in Kolkata’s Eden Gardens.
The Indian bowlers displayed their prowess, with Mohammed Siraj removing Quinton de Kock, Ravindra Jadeja dismissing Temba Bavuma, and Mohammed Shami accounting for Aiden Markram. As the duo continued to dominate, Henrich Klaasen and Rassie van der Dussen fell, leaving South Africa at 40/5 in 13.1 overs.
Virat Kohli, on his 35th birthday, showcased his batting prowess by equalling Sachin Tendulkar’s remarkable record of 49 ODI centuries. Kohli’s century guided India to a substantial total of 326/5 in 50 overs. The match witnessed a fiery start as Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill took on the South African bowlers. Although the run rate slowed down, Kohli and Shreyas Iyer managed to steer through the middle overs before accelerating their innings, both achieving half-centuries.
Kohli remained unbeaten on 101 off 121, with Suryakumar Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja providing entertaining cameos. India’s formidable performance with the bat set the stage for their bowlers to dominate.
This clash with South Africa held significant importance for India, given their history in the T20 World Cup where they suffered a loss to the Proteas. The absence of Hardik Pandya in the lineup was compensated for by Mohammed Shami and Suryakumar Yadav’s impressive contributions.
As the match progressed, Virat Kohli’s remarkable consistency was evident as he added to his impressive tally of runs in the tournament. The King’s 49th century, achieved at Eden Gardens, was a testament to his prowess in this iconic venue. Kohli’s stellar record against South Africa, with an average of 61 in 30 ODIs, including today’s innings, further underlined his dominance.
This encounter held a special significance for India, considering their previous World Cup loss to South Africa in 2011. As the tournament continues, India aims to maintain their winning streak, hoping that any possible “Law of Averages” would not affect their campaign.
Key Takeaways from the India vs South Africa World Cup 2023 match:
- South Africa’s chase of 327 began disastrously, with early losses including Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma.
- Virat Kohli’s 49th ODI century equaled Sachin Tendulkar’s record.
- India, after winning the toss, opted to bat first and posted a formidable total.
- Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill started aggressively, taking India to a quick start.
- The 100-run mark for India was reached in the 14th over.
- South Africa employed two spinners in Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi.
