One of probably the most painful recollections in Indian cricket historical past got here on the Eden Gardens in Kolkata again in 1996 World Cup. India have been the overwhelming favourites within the 1996 semifinal conflict in opposition to Arjuna Ranatunga’s Sri Lanka after hammering arch-rivals Pakistan within the quarterfinal in Bangalore.
However, to the frustration of your complete nation, Team India have been undone by a part-time left-arm spinner – Sanath Jayasuriya. Ironically, it was a left-arm spinner from India – Ravindra Jadeja – who held centrestage in a ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 and spun India to an enormous 243-run win over the second-best crew within the event thus far, South Africa.
One can’t name it a redemption for Team India as a league stage match can’t equate a loss within the semifinal however it’s actually a much-needed balm for the passionate Kolkata crowd. But Jadeja is only one piece of the puzzle within the five-pronged Indian tempo assault which has been sending shivers down opponents spines within the World Cup 2023.
Team India have received eight video games out of eight and are on observe to emulate West Indies and Australia as the one crew to win an ODI World Cup title with an unbeaten document. With batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been pivotal within the success, with both of the 2 batters scoring a minimum of 85 runs in all of the eight matches, the dominant nature of wins have been based mostly on the sensational efficiency of the Indian bowling assault.
Why it too an damage to all-rounder Hardik Pandya to lastly add Mohammad Shami to the bowling assault is anybody’s guess however as they are saying ‘better late than never’! Shami has been merely sensational and in simply 4 video games, he has develop into the main wicket-taker for India within the Cricket World Cup 2023.
One must name Sunday’s sport in opposition to South Africa an ‘off-day’ for Shami as he solely ended up with two wickets after 5, 4 and 5 wickets in his first three video games in opposition to the likes of New Zealand, England and Sri Lanka. Shami has 16 wickets in 4 matches at a median of simply 7, going previous tempo spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who has 15 wickets in 8 matches at a median of 15.53. Jadeja with a five-wicket haul and career-best figures in ODI within the final match has 14 wickets in 8 video games now, whereas even the ‘off-colour’ Mohammed Siraj has 10 wickets in 8 matches.
Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav has performed the supporting solid and nonetheless picked up 12 wickets in 8 matches at a median of twenty-two.58. Experts can’t cease raving in regards to the devastating Indian bowling assault which has been steamrolling batting line-ups with ease within the World Cup 2023.
Former England skipper Michael Vaughan summed it up by saying, “So if Bumrah doesn’t get you Siraj will .. If Siraj doesn’t get you Shami will .. If Shami doesn’t get you Jadeja will & If Jadeja doesn’t get you Kuldeep will”.
So if Bumrah would not get you Siraj will .. If Siraj would not get you Shami will .. If Shami would not get you Jadeja will & If Jadeja would not get you Kuldeep will .. #India #CWC2023 @clubprairiefire
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) November 5, 2023
Skipper Rohit Sharma can’t cease praising the likes of Shami and the all-round capacity of Ravindra Jadeja in all codecs of the sport. “For Shami to comeback the way he has, shows the mindset. The last two games has shown what Iyer is capable of. Gill and myself have been batting together for a majority of time now. We let the instincts take over. We don’t preplan anything. We just assess and play accordingly,” Rohit Sharma mentioned after the match.
“Jadeja has been very good for us. Playing in every format over the years. Today was a classical case as to what Jadeja is for us. Came out at the death and scored vital runs. Then picked up wickets. He knows his role and knows what the expectations from him. Not to get too ahead of ourselves has been the talk in the dressing room. Couple of big games coming up. We don’t want to change anything,” Rohit added.
It stays to be seen if Indian bowling machine can proceed their profitable march and information Rohit Sharma and Co to a 3rd ODI World Cup title and first since 2011.
