India continued their undefeated streak in the ongoing 2023 World Cup by securing a 160-run victory over the Netherlands in their final league stage match in Bengaluru on Sunday. Chasing a target of 411, the Netherlands was bowled out for 250 in 47.5 overs, with Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja each claiming two wickets.
Opting to bat after winning the toss, India’s opening duo, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, laid a solid foundation with half-centuries. Captain Virat Kohli, batting at No. 3, added another half-century with 51 runs off 56 balls. This set the stage for the No. 4 and No. 5 batsmen, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul.
Iyer played a sensational inning, scoring an unbeaten 128 off 94 deliveries, featuring 11 fours and four sixes. Meanwhile, Rahul contributed a powerful 102 off 94 balls, including 10 fours and five sixes. The wicketkeeper-batsman departed in the final over, but Iyer remained unbeaten as India posted a formidable 410/4 in 50 overs. Their partnership of 208 runs became the highest fourth-wicket partnership for India in World Cup history, surpassing MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina’s 196* in 2015 against Zimbabwe in Auckland.
Speaking to Crictracker, Pakistan cricket legend Shoaib Malik emphasized Rahul’s significance to Rahul Dravid’s team, labeling him as the ‘best No. 5 in world cricket.’ Malik highlighted Rahul’s versatility, as he can assume the wicketkeeper role, as seen in this tournament, and bat at various positions in the order, from opening to No. 5.
“The best at No 5 in world cricket. Klassen (Heinrich) needs a base to get going. But if you compare, India have got the best batter at 5, who can play in any sort of situation. If India lose two or three wickets early, he is someone, who can play according to the situation. He can finish the match, can improvise, can play with a good strike rate, and we have seen it today. He is good against spinners as well as the pacers. He picks the gaps and plays the field. Against Australia, we have seen, he was the one who finished the match,” remarked Malik.
As the only undefeated team in the World Cup, India is set to face New Zealand in the first semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday. This matchup is a repeat of the 2019 semi-final, where New Zealand emerged victorious but eventually lost to England in the final.