Rohit on World Cup semi against NZ: “We’re going to be brave. Hopefully, fortune favours the brave.”
India booked their place in their first Cricket World Cup final since 2011, with a convincing 70-run victory over New Zealand as they maintained their flawless campaign.
The tournament hosts successfully ended their group stage campaign unbeaten, winning all nine of their matches, and signing off with a thrashing of the Netherlands on Sunday, and maintained that form into the knockout stages.
Virat Kohli wrote his name into the record books when he eclipsed Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most ODI centuries, hitting his 50th in the first innings as India put on 387 runs. Shreyas Iyer also impressed with his century from just 67 deliveries including eight sixes.
But when it came to the bowling, it was Mohammed Shami who carried on his impressive World Cup to claim seven for 57. No other bowler could find a way through the New Zealand top-order, Shami took the first two in the powerplay, including a wicket with his first ball, and was brought back on to break the briefly-threatening partnership between Daryl Mitchell and Kane Williamson.
Mitchell struck 117 and tried to lead his side to victory while battling against cramp and the loss of batting partners, but was unable to quite manage it, despite an impressive innings.
India will wait until the outcome of the second semi-final between Australia and South Africa to find out their opponents for the Cricket World Cup final on 19 November in Ahmedabad.
Follow all the reaction from the semi-final below plus get all the Cricket World Cup odds and tips here:
India vs New Zealand
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‘It feels like a dream’: Virat Kohli reacts to record-breaking ODI ton in Cricket World Cup semi-final
Kohli’s third hundred of the tournament helped India to a score of 397/4 off of their 50 overs in Mumbai. The record-setting knock came exactly ten years after Tendulkar’s international farewell at the Wankhede Stadium, with the “Little Master” in attendance to watch his mark be surpassed.
“The great man [Sachin Tendulkar] just congratulated me,” Kohli said to the host broadcaster after making 117 from 113 balls. “All this feels like a dream to me, honestly. It’s too good to be true.”
Read more of Kohli’s thoughts from earlier as he surpassed Tendulkar’s record:
Ben Fleming15 November 2023 17:55
Coming up tomorrow
Well, India have already booked their place in the final but who will join them?
The second semi-final takes place tomorrow as South Africa and Australia look to reach Sunday’s showpiece event.
South Africa were the emphatic victors when the two sides met in the group stages, winning by 134 runs after bowling Australia out for just 177. However, the 2015 champions have bounced back well in this tournament to reach the final four after winning seven straight games in a row.
You can follow along all the action from that one on The Independent’s live blog tomorrow.
Ben Fleming15 November 2023 17:52
More from Rohit
“We gave them chances they didn’t taken them. But credit to them with the batting. Daryl Mitchell and Kane Williamson batted brilliantly. For us, it was important to stay calm. At one point the crowd went silent but that’s the nature of the game.
“We knew we had to pull something out of the hat. A bit of magic. A run-out, a catch or a magic delivery. We tried everything and Mohammed Shami was brilliant.”
Ben Fleming15 November 2023 17:45
Rohit Sharma, Indian captain, speaking after the game
“I have played a lot of cricket here so I know with any score on this ground you cannot relax. Get the job done as quickly as possible and stay at. We knew there would be pressure on us at some stage, a partnership. We just had to stay collected. That’s what we did. We were very calm even though we were sloppy in the field. That can happen.
“We have had nine perfect games on the field in terms of fielding so these things were bound to happen. I am glad we got the job done in the end. Would 20 or 30 runs fewer have made a difference? It’s hard to say that because they wouldn’t take as many risks. When the scoring rate is about nine all the time you have to take you chances. Sometimes it comes off, sometimes it doesn’t.”
(Getty Images)
Ben Fleming15 November 2023 17:41
More from Williamson
“It was tough out there; the ball swung a lot. Initially and so we had to work pretty hard. But like I say credit to India, they thoroughly deserve where they are they played outstandingly.
On his partnership with Mitchell: “It was nice to be out there and give ourselves a bit of a chance. We needed a lot to go our way – naturally if you chasing a total like that.”
On the atmosphere: “A fantastic crowd wasn’t it? An unbelievable atmosphere. Obviously slightly one-sided in their support, but you know, special to be a part of and, you know, fantastic tournament.”
On his takeaways from the tournament: “There were some incredible contributions throughout. I think as a team you know, there’s a real commitment to the cricket we want to play and we wholeheartedly did that.
“You’ve got Rachin [Ravindra] and Daryl Mitchell who were special throughout this whole campaign and on surfaces that varied and certainly – in the second half – were outstanding batting surfaces.
“We showed a lot of fight and I’m really proud of that. Ultimately it’s about moving forward as a team and there have been some really good steps in the right direction.”
Ben Fleming15 November 2023 17:36
Kane Williamson, New Zealand captain, speaking after the game
”Firstly, congratulations to India. They’ve played outstanding well throughout this competition and perhaps played their best game today. They are a top side of the top of the game. At the halfway stage with about 400 on the board was naturally going to be tough but credit to the guys – a proud effort really to stay in the fight and, at the halfway stage of that innings, kind of give ourselves some hope there in a bit of a chance.”
“A tough game, disappointing to go out in the knockout stages but super proud of the effort that has gone into these seven weeks as a side.”
On their bowling performance: The effort was there and like I said, India are a top-class side with clearly some world-class batsman. They came out and played beautifully well and it didn’t give us a sniff really, and I suppose if you bat first and put 400 on the board, it’s a tick in the batting column and you go out and try to do the job in the second half.”
(Getty Images)
Ben Fleming15 November 2023 17:29
More from Shami
“The wicket was very good, lots of runs were scored in the afternoon. There was some fear of dew, the grass had been shaved off from the wicket. If dew was there, it skids on and there’s a chance runs could’ve been made.”
Ben Fleming15 November 2023 17:23
Mohammed Shami speaking after the game
On his performance “I’ve been waiting for my chance but I try to keep it simple. There’s a lot of focus on variation but I still believe in pitching it up and trying to get wickets that way.”
On getting to the final: “We have come very close in the past but this was a chance that we couldn’t let it go. You never know when the next one will come around.”
(AP)
Ben Fleming15 November 2023 17:14
INDIA WIN BY 70 RUNS TO REACH WORLD CUP FINAL
What a performance from the hosts.
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
Ben Fleming15 November 2023 17:11
INDIA WIN BY 70 RUNS TO REACH WORLD CUP FINAL
It’s third time lucky for India, who have been knocked out of the World Cup at the semi-final stage in 2015 and 2019.
But they’ve been imperious this tournament, yet to lose a game and they deservedly reach the final in front of their home fans.
They’ll line up against either South Africa or Australia – what a task that will be one of them.
Ben Fleming15 November 2023 17:03