On November 19, India will face Australia in the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Final, marking the fourth consecutive time a host nation has reached the final, a trend that began with India in 2011.
India’s current performance positions them well to secure their third World Cup. The team’s success is attributed to the aggressive batting of Rohit Sharma, the steady assurance of Virat Kohli, and the exceptional bowling of Mohammed Shami.
Let’s delve into India’s impressive journey to the World Cup final:
First Match: India vs. Australia in Chennai
India capitalized on a favorable pitch, with spinners leading the attack. Despite solid performances from David Warner and Steve Smith, Australia managed only 199 runs. India, however, overcame an early setback to secure a six-wicket victory, thanks to a strong partnership between Kohli and KL Rahul.
Second Match: India vs. Afghanistan in Delhi
Despite Afghanistan’s early resilience, Jasprit Bumrah’s late strikes prevented them from reaching 300. Rohit Sharma’s aggressive century led India’s successful chase, achieving the target in just 35 overs.
Third Match: India vs. Pakistan in Ahmedabad
India’s bowling prowess, led by Bumrah, shone on a batting-friendly pitch. Pakistan’s batting line-up collapsed, allowing India to secure a seven-wicket victory.
Fourth Match: India vs. Bangladesh in Pune
Kohli’s remarkable century helped India comfortably chase Bangladesh’s first innings total. Despite losing Hardik Pandya to injury, India’s clinical bowling performance ensured a smooth victory.
Fifth Match: India vs. New Zealand in Dharamsala
India faced a tough challenge from New Zealand. However, Shami’s five-wicket haul turned the tide in India’s favor, leading to a comfortable win with two overs to spare.
Sixth Match: India vs. England in Lucknow
Despite a challenging pitch, Rohit Sharma’s brilliance helped India post a respectable total of 229. England’s batting line-up crumbled under the pressure exerted by Bumrah and Shami, resulting in a comfortable victory for India.
Seventh Match: India vs. Sri Lanka in Mumbai
India’s top and middle order dominated the batting innings, posting a formidable total of 357. Shami and Mohammed Siraj then tore through Sri Lanka’s batting order, leading to a record-breaking victory margin of 302 runs.
Eighth Match: India vs. South Africa in Kolkata
Kohli equaled Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI hundreds, helping India reach a total of 326. The bowlers, led by Shami, then dismissed the Proteas for a meager 83.
Ninth Match: India vs. Netherlands in Bengaluru
India continued their winning streak with a victory over the Netherlands. Shreyas Iyer and Rahul’s attacking centuries helped India post a massive total of 410, which proved too much for the Netherlands to chase.
Semi-final: India vs. New Zealand in Mumbai
India overcame their past struggles against New Zealand in ICC tournament knockout games. Kohli’s record-breaking 50th ODI ton, along with Iyer’s century, set a near 400-run target. Despite a strong performance from Mitchell, New Zealand couldn’t withstand Shami’s brilliance, who recorded the best-ever figures for an Indian bowler in ODIs.