Introduction:

India continued their unbeaten run in the ICC World Cup 2023 with a thumping 302-run victory over Sri Lanka on Thursday, November 2, 2023, at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. This win ensured that India became the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of the tournament.

India Batting Dominance

India batted first after winning the toss and put up a mammoth total of 357/8 on the board. Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill shared a 189-run partnership for the second wicket, with both batsmen scoring half-centuries. Shreyas Iyer also played a blinder, scoring 74 runs off just 54 balls.

India’s bowlers were in their element from the start, with Jasprit Bumrah taking a wicket with the first ball of the innings. Mohammed Siraj then sent back three more wickets in quick succession to reduce Sri Lanka to 4/3.

Shami then took over, picking up five wickets in his opening spell to leave Sri Lanka reeling at 14/8. The islanders were eventually bowled out for just 55 runs, their lowest total in a World Cup match.

Indian bowlers seal the victory

The Indian bowlers were in top form from the start, with Jasprit Bumrah striking with the first ball of the innings. Mohammed Siraj then picked up three wickets in quick succession to reduce Sri Lanka to 4/3. Mohammed Shami then joined the party and took a five-wicket haul to bowl Sri Lanka out for just 55 runs.

Kohli’s Comeback

Virat Kohli’s half-century was particularly significant as it came after a long period of lean form. Kohli had been struggling to score runs in recent months, but he showed signs of a return to form in the match against Sri Lanka. He played some sublime shots and looked fluent at the crease.

Gill’s Consistency

Shubman Gill continued his impressive form in the World Cup, scoring his third half-century in the tournament. Gill has been one of the most consistent batsmen for India in the tournament and he will be looking to continue his good run in the semi-finals.

Kohli, Gill and Iyer star with the bat

Earlier in the day, India’s batsmen had set Sri Lanka a daunting target of 358 runs. Kohli and Gill put on a brilliant 189-run stand for the second wicket, with Kohli scoring 92 runs and Gill scoring 91 runs.

Shreyas Iyer also played a fine knock, scoring 66 runs to help India post a total of 357/8.

Sri Lanka Bowling Woes

The Sri Lankan bowling attack was ineffective against the Indian batsmen. They bowled too many short-pitched deliveries and were not able to build any pressure on the Indian batsmen.

Shami’s Five-Wicket Haul

The Indian bowlers, on the other hand, were on fire. Mohammed Shami took a five-wicket haul to bowl out Sri Lanka for just 55 runs, which is the lowest score in the World Cup since 1996. Mohammed Siraj also picked up three wickets, while Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya took a wicket each.

Conclusion:

India’s victory over Sri Lanka was a dominant performance. They were in control of the match from the start, and they never gave Sri Lanka a chance to get back into the game. India will now look to continue their winning run in the semi-finals and qualify for the final of the ICC World Cup 2023.