India secured a spot in the final of the 2023 World Cup with a commanding victory over New Zealand, defeating them by 70 runs at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. The match witnessed stellar performances from Virat Kohli, who scored his 50th ODI hundred with a brilliant 117, and Shreyas Iyer, contributing a consecutive century with 105 runs.
However, the real hero of the day was Mohammed Shami, who showcased exceptional bowling skills by claiming 7 wickets for 57 runs, dismantling New Zealand’s pursuit of a challenging 398-run target.
This win marked India’s 10th consecutive triumph in the tournament, establishing them as a dominant force. Kohli and Shami emerged as the leading run-scorer and wicket-taker, respectively, in this World Cup edition. The victory shattered India’s semifinal jinx, and they are now set to appear in their fourth World Cup final, having previously won in 1983 and clinched the title as hosts in 2011.
Reflecting on India’s World Cup journey, they overcame a disappointing campaign in 2007 to triumph in 2011 and reached the semi-finals in 2015 and 2019. The current edition showcased India’s relentless form, remaining unbeaten in the group stage, securing victories against formidable opponents.
New Zealand, known for their resilient performances, faced a daunting task in chasing down 398 runs. Despite a strong start by Daryl Mitchell and Kane Williamson, the duo failed to sustain the momentum against Shami’s fierce bowling. Mitchell, who had previously scored a century against India in the group stage, continued his aggressive play but succumbed to Shami’s brilliance in the end.
The match witnessed a strategic battle, with New Zealand aiming for a comfortable position by the 30th over before unleashing their middle-order power. However, Shami’s crucial wickets disrupted their plans, and India’s bowlers faced rare pressure. Although Glenn Phillips played a notable innings, contributing 41 runs, India regained control with key wickets by Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav.
Here are some of the Twitter Recations after India’s win:
One more push boys!!!….god please be kind to them as you are ❤️🥹. #IndianCricketTeam pic.twitter.com/rTxUb3Mssb
— coverdrive 🇮🇳 (@coverdrive04) November 16, 2023
https://twitter.com/Anurag_4M/status/1724835506041561489?t=sTjYvWYh-ITxAK6KJ28UBw&s=19
This is 1 video which explains why this team is special and the success they are encountering. Just look at the genuine happiness and excitement with which support staff and non playing members of 11 including a senior pro like Ashwin is celebrating#IndianCricketTeam pic.twitter.com/fmx7r5sxmu
— Dr.Nitin Yashas (@drnitinyashas) November 15, 2023
https://twitter.com/MoinulHuda7/status/1724972350649614523?t=IKoGLqdLXe52uiXsoXODcg&s=19
These moments are really such that they will be remembered for many years to come.#Shami is truly the king of bowling.Whenever the #IndianCricketTeam needed #Shami, he took wickets.💖🇮🇳💪#IndiaVsNewZealand #ViratKohli𓃵#anushkasharma #INDvsNZ Dhoni#BCCIpic.twitter.com/dKkgF3xJsP
— KUMAR ANSHUL (@kumar_anshul123) November 15, 2023
Enter into the final.🇮🇳#ViratKohli𓃵#IndianCricketTeam #IndiaVsNewZealand #BCCI #ICCWorldCup #ICCWorldCup2023 #Shami #maninform #India pic.twitter.com/CpfmVBzCVQ
— Alok Singh (@imlokRaj) November 16, 2023
https://twitter.com/Parth_045/status/1724869707633701042?t=aYVFRh_LE4Rk6KaYD29Szg&s=19
Shami final 😍@MdShami11 congratulations #TeamIndia #IndianCricketTeam #ViratKohli𓃵 #RohitSharma𓃵 #Shreyas #WC2023 pic.twitter.com/LveKMWhvcv
— Rishab Shetty (@shetty_rishab) November 15, 2023
What a guy Md Shami! Sheer simplicity. Thank you so much for your magic and gearing the Indian Team into the finals. Very well deserved Man of the match. Also listen to the crackers bursting in my neighbourhood 😂#TeamIndia #IndianCricketTeam #INDvsNZ #Shami pic.twitter.com/ldtXCEQMXR
— ruchi kokcha (@ruchikokcha) November 15, 2023
In a defining moment, Shami secured his third five-wicket haul of the tournament by dismissing Daryl Mitchell, sealing India’s path to the World Cup final. Kohli’s century at the iconic Wankhede Stadium added a special touch to the victory, elevating the significance of the win in this crucial semifinal clash.
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