In the World Cup semifinal against New Zealand, India experienced some challenges they hadn’t faced before. The match, held at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on November 15, saw India defending a total of 397. However, misfields and overthrows became a cause for concern.
In the 23rd over of New Zealand’s chase, Daryl Mitchell and Kane Williamson were building a strong partnership after the early dismissals of openers Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra. Ravindra Jadeja’s overthrow, prompted by Williamson’s aggressive play, resulted in four extra runs for New Zealand. Captain Rohit Sharma wasn’t pleased with Jadeja’s decision to throw the ball, questioning its necessity.
This is how Ravindra Jadeja gave the Overthrow:
India, known for their excellent fielding in the tournament’s league stage, seemed to falter in the semifinal. This was evident in Mohammed Shami dropping a catch at mid-on, providing Kane Williamson a second chance. Jasprit Bumrah also missed a boundary opportunity, allowing New Zealand to capitalize on India’s fielding lapses.
Despite these challenges, New Zealand’s Williamson and Mitchell reached their fifties, forming a partnership of over 150 runs and putting pressure on the Indian bowlers.
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Earlier in the day, India had set a World Cup knockout record by scoring 397 runs in 50 overs. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill had a strong start, with Virat Kohli’s remarkable 50th ODI century and Shreyas Iyer’s aggressive 105 off 70 balls contributing to India’s imposing total.
In summary, India faced unexpected fielding issues in the semifinal, overshadowing their impressive batting performance and raising concerns about maintaining high standards under pressure.
