In the 21st match of the 2023 World Cup, Team India secured a remarkable four-wicket victory against New Zealand on Sunday (October 22). This triumph at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala marked their first win over New Zealand in ICC events in two decades.
Captain Rohit Sharma of side India won the toss and invited the New Zealand side to bat first. New Zealand then posted a respectable total of 273 in 50 overs.
Daryl Mitchell (130) led their batting with a stunning century, while Rachin Ravindra (75) assisted. Mohammed Shami took five wickets for India and was a standout in the bowling department.
In response, Rohit Sharma provided India another strong start with a rapid 46 (40). He left in the 12th over without turning his promising start into a huge one. Shubman Gill (26), Shreyas Iyer (33) and KL Rahul (27) all started brightly but couldn’t keep it up. Suryakumar Yadav scored two runs in his World Cup debut after a disastrous miscommunication with Virat Kohli while running.
Kohli (95) superbly anchored the chase and formed a match-winning 78-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja (39*) to see India home in the difficult chase.
Cricket enthusiasts took to social media to share their delight in the thrilling IND vs. NZ match on Sunday. In true internet fashion, they expressed their excitement through the creation and sharing of humorous memes.
Here is a collection of the best memes:
Tom Latham: We needed more wickets to stop India chase
Following the match’s conclusion on Sunday, New Zealand captain Tom Latham remarked on the defeat, saying:
“We played well. Towards the last 10 (overs), did not capitalize. Full credit to India, they bowled fantastically well. With the ball, we went past the bat plenty of times. They managed to get partnership after partnership, we just couldn’t get two wickets in a row.”
Tom Latham
Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell were praised by him for their important 159-run combination, saying:
“Rachin (Ravindra) and Daryl (Mitchell) had a fantastic partnership, set us up nicely for the back 10, but again, we couldn’t capitalize. From a batting point of view, this just gives a blueprint for us. Wickets in hand towards the back 10. These are positions we want to be in.”
Tom Latham
Latham finished by praising Virat Kohli, saying:
“He (Virat Kohli) played a fantastic innings, controlled it well and the team batted around him. We got to be proactive, work to your plan as much as you can. Another good innings from him. We have got a few days off. Day game coming up, which is in a week. We were not too far off today, just taking the positives from that.”
Tom Latham
With the victory, India has surpassed New Zealand a top the 2023 World Cup points standings.