In the 2023 World Cup, undefeated India faces South Africa. They’ve only lost one match, a 38-run loss against Holland’s lively team. This match is the showdown between the current top two teams.
Both teams have a secured spot in the semi-finals and while there’s no advantage for making the top two like in IPL, it seems insignificant. But, glance over any major sport competitions and you’ll disagree.
It will inform you that momentum is quite important. It keeps your confidence strong and your legs and head moving in the correct way. At this point, neither India nor South Africa would want to lose that. If the teams play again in the knockouts, the winner will get a psychological edge.
Then there are certain personal records to keep track of. Again, it appears that they would not matter, but they do in terms of motivation and morale, especially when combined with victory. They also contribute to the momentum.
We’ll take a look at the three on line records today:
1. Mohammed Shami Eyes World Cup Record for Fastest 50 Wickets
Who would have guessed that Mohammed Shami, India’s reserve pacer for the 2023 World Cup, was called up due to an injury and bowled periods of 5/54, 4/22, and 5/18 in three matches at an average of 6.71?
Just before the final game, he was five wickets short of being India’s number one wicket-taker at the ODI World Cups. It seemed unattainable to gain five more wickets. But he did it! Now, he stands five wickets away from another gigantic achievement.
If he bowls a fifer today, in his 15th ODI World Cup encounter, he would become the tournament’s fastest bowler to 50 wickets. Mitchell Starc just broke that record against India in Australia’s opening match.
The Australian bowler hit the milestone in 19 matches, outpacing Glenn McGrath (30), Muttiah Muralitharan (30), Lasith Malinga (26), and Wasim Akram (34).
Shami has four matches left to engrave his name in history with even brighter writing, but you can’t bet on him doing it today.
2. Keshav Maharaj Can Make History as South Africa’s Quickest Finger Spinner to 50 ODI Wickets
You don’t think of spin when you think about South African bowling. You might think of Imran Tahir, but few people think of finger spin. Because of the country’s culture and surfaces, just five finger spinners have taken more over 50 ODI wickets, one of which is batting all-rounder JP Duminy.
Keshav Maharaj, the current slow left-arm orthodox bowler, is only two wickets away from matching that total. If he gets there today, in his 39th match, he’ll be the quickest finger spinner in South African history.
He will also be the second-fastest spinner behind Tahir, who claimed 28 ODI wickets in 50 balls.
3. Virat Kohli needs 61 runs to become third highest run-scorer in World Cups
Records and milestones are chasing Virat Kohli around like a lost pet in this 2023 World Cup. He currently has 1472 runs from 33 World Cup matches after his 88 (94) against Sri Lanka, his seventh 50+ score of the tournament.
The Indian No. 3 is just a few runs short, precisely 61, from becoming history’s third greatest scorer in the tournament. With that, he would exceed Kumar Sangakkara’s record of 1532 runs. Only two others, Sachin Tendulkar with 2278 runs, and Ricky Ponting with 1743, would be ahead of him in the record books.