Team India defeated New Zealand by 70 runs in the first semi-final of the 2023 World Cup. The match took place at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 15. With this victory, the Men in Blue secured their spot in the tournament’s final and are set to face either Australia or South Africa.
India batted first after winning the toss and scored an imposing 397/4. Virat Kohli made history by scoring his record 50th ODI century, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s previous record. Shreyas Iyer also played a remarkable innings, contributing 105 runs off 70 balls. Mohammed Shami excelled in the bowling department, taking seven wickets for 57 runs, the best figures by an Indian in ODIs.
The Indian team got off to a strong start with Rohit Sharma scoring 47 runs off 29 balls. Kohli and Shubman Gill then built a solid partnership before Gill was forced to retire hurt due to cramps. However, this did not hinder India’s momentum as Kohli and Shreyas continued to dominate. Kohli also broke Tendulkar’s record for the most runs in a single edition of the ODI World Cup.
New Zealand, in their chase of 398 runs, lost early wickets but managed to create a strong partnership between Mitchell and Williamson, adding 181 runs for the third wicket. Despite their efforts, the target was too high to reach, and Shami’s outstanding performance with the ball secured India’s place in the final.
Overall, Kohli and Shreyas stood out with remarkable centuries for India, while Gill and Rahul also made valuable contributions. Shami was awarded the Player of the Match for his exceptional seven-wicket haul.
