ODI World Cup 2023: Alarm bells before the semi-finals; For the first time, 250 runs were scored in the second innings against India!
The Indian team is so far unbeaten in the ODI World Cup 2023. To win the trophy, India will have to remain invincible in future also. However, alarm bells rang for India before the semi-final match against New Zealand. In the last decade, neither India's record in ICC tournaments against New Zealand is good nor has India played well against any team in knockout matches. At the same time, what happened against the Netherlands has increased the problems of the captain and the coach.
Indian bowlers have been in excellent form in this World Cup. From bowling out Australia for 199 runs in the first match to dismiss Sri Lanka for 55 runs and South Africa for 83 runs, the Indian bowlers impressed. Many veterans even say that this is the best bowling attack in the country in the last 50 years. At the same time, many former cricketers say that this is the best bowling attack of any team in recent times. Overall, everyone agrees that India has the best bowling in this World Cup.
This was not seen in the match against the Netherlands, which is a matter of concern for India. India has played nine matches in this World Cup and only four times has the opposition team been able to touch the 250 mark. Afghanistan did this in the second match, and then the Bangladesh and New Zealand teams scored more than 250 runs. These three teams batted first and scored this score, which India achieved easily.
Shami returned to Team India in the match against New Zealand. After this, India's bowling looked in a different rhythm. India bowled out a team like England for 129 runs. After this, Sri Lanka was bowled out for 55 runs and South Africa was bowled out for 83 runs. After this, it was believed that it would be difficult for the Netherlands to play even 20 overs against India. However, this did not happen. The Netherlands played for 47.5 overs and scored 250 runs. This was the first time in this World Cup that a team scored 250 runs against India while chasing the target.
The most important thing was that captain Rohit Sharma used nine bowlers in this match. Only wicketkeeper Lokesh Rahul and Shreyas Iyer did not bowl. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma also took wickets. Kohli dismissed the opposition captain and Rohit ended the Netherlands innings by taking the last wicket. In such a situation, the question arises of what the leading bowlers of India, who made big teams dance with their balls, were doing. In this match, India's leading bowlers bowled 40 overs and took eight wickets. Shami, who took 16 wickets in four matches, did not get any success. His economy rate was also 6.80. Bumrah was the only bowler in India whose economy rate was less than four. In such a situation, the concern for Team India has increased before the semi-final match. India's leading bowlers could not bowl out a team like the Netherlands in 40 overs and also gave away a lot of runs. Now Indian bowlers will have to regain their rhythm against New Zealand. If this does not happen, Team India's dream of becoming champion may be shattered once again.