India vs New Zealand: In a nail-biting semi-final clash against New Zealand, India emerged victorious, entering the 2023 World Cup final in spectacular fashion. The match witnessed stellar performances, with Virat Kohli breaking records and Mohammed Shami’s exceptional bowling securing a historic win for India.
India’s journey in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup reached new heights as they triumphed over New Zealand in a high-octane semi-final. The clash, marked by remarkable milestones and individual brilliance, unfolded at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
Table of Contents
Key Performances in India vs New Zealand
- Kohli’s Landmark Century: Virat Kohli etched his name in history by smashing his 50th ODI century, surpassing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. His innings of 117 (113) set the tone for India’s formidable total.
- Shreyas Iyer’s Explosive Ton: Shreyas Iyer continued his scintillating form, scoring a blazing century with 105 runs off 70 balls. His six-hitting spree added significant firepower to India’s innings.
- Shami’s Bowling Masterclass: Mohammed Shami’s exceptional bowling performance played a crucial role in dismantling the New Zealand batting lineup. Shami’s seven-wicket haul showcased his prowess and determination.
India vs New Zealand Match Summary:
India, opting to bat first, posted an imposing total of 397/4 in 50 overs. Rohit Sharma provided a flying start, and contributions from Shubman Gill and KL Rahul, along with Kohli and Iyer’s centuries, powered India’s innings.
In response, New Zealand displayed resilience, with Mitchell’s brilliant century and notable contributions from Williamson and Phillips. However, the target proved challenging, and India’s bowlers, especially Shami, staged a remarkable comeback.
India vs New Zealand Post-Match Interviews:
Rohit Sharma: The Indian captain reflected on the challenging moments in the match, acknowledging the pressure and the need to stay calm. He praised the team’s batting performance and highlighted the superb contributions of players like Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill.
I have played a lot of cricket here, you cannot relax. You got to get the job done as quickly as possible. We knew there’ll be pressure on us. We were calm even though we were a bit sloppy on the field. These things are bound to happen, glad that we could get the job done. When the scoring rate is above 9, you gotta take chances. They gave us chances, we didn’t take them., Mitchell and Williamson batted brilliantly. We had to stay calm. The crowd went silent, that’s the nature of the game. We knew we had to pull something from our sleeves. We tried everything and Shami was brilliant. The top five-six batters, they have made it count. Very pleased with what Iyer has done in this tournament. Gill, the way he batted upfront was brilliant, unfortunately he had to return back. Kohli, as usual, was brilliant, played his trademark innings and got to his landmark. All in all, the batting was superb. That’s the template we want to move with. England game, we got only 230 on the board. The way our bowlers bowled upfront, they picked wickets. Today, I wouldn’t say there was no pressure. Guys were doing the job. We wanted to do what we’ve been doing in the first nine games. Things came off really nice.
Rohit Sharma (Team India Captain)
Kane Williamson: Despite the disappointment of exiting the tournament, Williamson praised India’s top-class cricket and acknowledged their superior performance. He commended the efforts of his team, particularly Mitchell and Phillips, in a hard-fought semi-final.
Firstly, congrats to India. They have played great cricket throughout. They played their best game today. They are a top side and played top cricket. Credit to the guys. Proud of the guys to stay in the fight. Disappointing to go out in the knock-out stages. The effort was there. India are a top-class side. The world class batters just came out and batted beautifully. They got to 400. Was tough as the ball was moving around. Credit to India, they outplayed us. Nice to be out there to give us a chance. Fantastic crowd. Slightly one-sided. Special to be here and glad to be hosted by India. As a team, there is real commitment to the cricket we wanted to play. Rachin and Mitchell were special. They played really well. Bowlers chipped in here and there. Lot of fight. Very proud. Ultimately it is moving forward as a team.
Kane Williamson (Team New Zealand Captain)
Mohammed Shami: The Player of the Match, Shami, expressed his joy at being given the chance to contribute to India’s success. He shared insights into his bowling strategy, emphasizing the importance of taking wickets with the new ball. Shami reflected on the team’s past World Cup experiences and his personal growth.
I was waiting for my turn. I wasn’t playing much white ball cricket. I had in mind, we talk about a lot of things like yorkers and slower balls. I tried to take wickets with the new ball. I try to take as many as I can with the new ball. I dropped the catch of Kane. I felt bad. I tried to take pace off. They were playing their shots. So, I took a chance. The wicket was good. There was the fear of dew. The grass was cut off nicely. The runs were enough. Had dew come in, things could have been bad. The slower balls might not have worked. I feel amazing. This is a huge platform. We lost in the semis in the 2015 and the 2019 WC. Looking to cash in with the chance I have been given. We don’t know when all of us will get a chance like this again.
Mohmmad Shami (Player of the Match)
Key Statistics of World Cup:
| Category | Record | Player | Opponent | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Most sixes in a World Cup match | 33 | ENG vs AFG | Manchester | 2019 |
| 32 | AUS vs NZ | Dharamsala | 2023 | |
| 31 | NZ vs WI | Wellington (QF) | 2015 | |
| 31 | SA vs SL | Delhi | 2023 | |
| 30 | IND vs NZ | Mumbai WS (SF) | 2023 | |
| Highest aggregates in a World Cup match | 771 | AUS vs NZ | Dharamsala | 2023 |
| 754 | SA vs SL | Delhi | 2023 | |
| 724 | IND vs NZ | Mumbai WS (SF) | 2023 | |
| 714 | AUS vs BAN | Nottingham | 2019 | |
| 689 | PAK vs SL | Hyderabad | 2023 | |
| Previous record for CWC knockouts | 643 | NZ vs WI | Wellington (QF) | 2015 |
| Most wins in a single World Cup edition | 11 | Australia | 2003 | |
| 11 | Australia | 2007 | ||
| 10* | India | 2023 | ||
| 9 | India | 2003 | ||
| 8 | Sri Lanka | 2007 | ||
| 8 | New Zealand | 2015 | ||
| Most consecutive wins in World Cups | 25 | Australia | 1999-2011 | |
| 11 | India | 2011-2015 | ||
| 10* | India | 2023 | ||
| 9 | West Indies | 1975-1979 | ||
| Most runs in a World Cup edition for New Zealand | 578 | Kane Williamson | 2019 | |
| 578 | Rachin Ravindra | 2023 | ||
| 552 | Daryl Mitchell | 2023 | ||
| 547 | Martin Guptill | 2015 | ||
| 499 | Scott Styris | 2007 | ||
| 456 | Martin Crowe | 1992 | ||
| Most sixes in a World Cup edition | 28 | Rohit Sharma | 2023 | |
| 26 | Chris Gayle | 2015 | ||
| 24 | Shreyas Iyer | 2023 | ||
| 22 | Eoin Morgan | 2019 | ||
| 22 | Glenn Maxwell | 2023 | ||
| 22 | Daryl Mitchell | 2023 | ||
| Best bowling returns for India in ODIs | 7/57 | Mohammed Shami | vs NZ, Mumbai WS (WC) | 2023 |
| 6/4 | Stuart Binny | vs BAN, Mirpur | 2014 | |
| 6/12 | Anil Kumble | vs WI, Kolkata | 1993 | |
| 6/19 | Jasprit Bumrah | vs ENG, The Oval | 2022 | |
| 6/21 | Mohammed Siraj | vs SL, Colombo RPS | 2023 | |
| Previous WC record for India | 6/23 | Ashish Nehra | vs ENG, Durban | 2003 |
| Two (or more) World Cup five-fors against an opponent | 2 | Mitchell Starc | vs New Zealand | |
| 2 | Mohammed Shami | vs New Zealand | ||
| Most wickets in a single World Cup edition | 27 | Mitchell Starc | 2019 | |
| 26 | Glenn McGrath | 2007 | ||
| 23 | Chaminda Vaas | 2003 | ||
| 23 | Muttiah Muralitharan | 2007 | ||
| 23 | Shaun Tait | 2007 | ||
| 23 | Mohammed Shami | 2023 | ||
| Previous record for India | 21 | Zaheer Khan | 2011 | |
| Best bowling returns in a World Cup match | 7/15 | Glenn McGrath | vs NAM, Potchefstroom | 2003 |
| 7/20 | Andy Bichel | vs ENG, Gqeberha | 2003 | |
| 7/33 | Tim Southee | vs ENG, Wellington | 2015 | |
| 7/51 | Winston Davis | vs AUS, Leeds | 1983 | |
| 7/57 | Mohammed Shami | vs NZ, Mumbai WS (WC) | 2023 | |
| Previous record for WC knockouts | 6/14 | Gary Gilmour | vs ENG, Leeds | 1975 |
| Most five-fors in World Cups | 4 | Mohammed Shami | ||
| 3 | Mitchell Starc | |||
| Shami also became the first bowler to bag three five-fors in a single World Cup edition. |
(Note: * indicates an ongoing record.)
Conclusion: India’s victory in the semi-final against New Zealand adds another chapter to their impressive World Cup campaign. The team’s collective effort, highlighted by Kohli’s record-breaking century and Shami’s bowling heroics, positions them as strong contenders for the coveted title. As India advances to the final, cricket fans eagerly await another thrilling showdown on the world stage.