India Stroms into Cricket World Cup Final’s as Men in Blue Continue their Dream Run
In a thrilling match at the ongoing one-day international World Cup, India clinched the victory against New Zealand, securing their place in the finals. Amul, India’s leading dairy company famous for its witty ads, commemorated this semi-final win to Mohammad Shami, calling it ‘Shami-Final’, the standout hero of the match.
Though the Indian team looked in control right through the first inning where batting first, they posted a mammoth total just three runs short of 400. However, in the second inning, when New Zealand came to bat, after losing two quick wickets, they regained control thanks to an amazing hard-hitting batting display by Daryl Mitchell and, aptly supported by his captain, Kane Williamson, both seemed set to take the game deep and finish with a win. This was also the first time in the tournament that India was pushed to its limits in all departments. Until the 30th over, it seemed like anyone’s game, especially with Mitchell and Kane still batting with ease. However, Sami had other plans, and he bowled a magical spell, taking seven wickets.
He provided the breakthrough in the form of Willamson and then, along with other bowlers, chipped away New Zealand wickets while drying out runs.
Mohammad Shami turned the tide- his exceptional bowling performance not only shattered records but also set new ones, claiming seven wickets, surpassing the previous six-wicket record held by Ashish Nehra in the previous World Cup edition. He also became the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, earning him the Player of the Match award. His humble response during the post-match presentation reflected his dedication and focus on delivering what was expected of him.
The game also witnessed other remarkable milestones. King Kohli marked his 50th century in this format, surpassing his idol Sachin Tendulkar’s record. Shreyas Iyer’s explosive hundred in just over 60 balls made him the second Indian to achieve a century at number 4 in a World Cup, following in the footsteps of a cricketing legend.
Cricket, often deemed a religion in India- brings people of different faiths, genders, regions and societies together; yesterday was another day when the game got clan Indians to cheer for Bharat.
Indians do spend a substantial amount of time on WhatsApp. WhatsApp has been immensely popular in India, serving as a primary communication platform for millions. According to estimates, on average, Indian users spend around 180-200 minutes per week on WhatsApp, which is significantly higher compared to users in many other countries. However, yesterday was different. Most groups I am part of- fell silent.
Even the usually active Pickle Jar India (PJI), a media platform with a WhatsApp group founded by award-winning journalist Vasanthi Hariprakash, an ex-NDTV reporter, also experienced an unusual lull during the match.
Pickle Jar, as the name suggests, has nearly 400 curated members from diverse backgrounds across the country and a few Indians living aboard. Yesterday, during the match between 8.30 pm and 9.45 pm, there wasn’t a single message till Vasanthi messaged, ” Itna sannaata kyun hai Bhai?” (“why this much silence is anybody here?”) It was a testament to the nation’s collective focus and anticipation.
The victory celebration was not just confined to India. Karan Sharma, founder and captain of the Omsheel cricket team that plays Delaware T20 Cricket league in the USA- celebrated his 42nd birthday with this exhilarating win, considering it the best birthday gift.
As India advances to the finals at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, the country will come to stand still.
This tournament has been exceptional for India- last night’s victory was more than just a cricket match; it was a unifying experience that transcended boundaries, bringing together a nation in celebration and anticipation for the upcoming final clash.
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