India sealed its spot in the semi-finals of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 with an extraordinary 302-run victory over Sri Lanka. In this historic win, Shubman Gill played a crucial role, contributing a massive 92 runs, while Mohammed Shami showcased his brilliance by taking five wickets.
This victory marked a significant milestone for India, as it became their largest-ever triumph in the history of the ICC World Cup. The batting trio of Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer set the stage for India's impressive total of 357/8. Kohli's steady 88 off 94 balls, Gill's powerful 92 off 92, and Iyer's explosive 82 off 56 deliveries were the standout performances. Ravindra Jadeja added a quickfire 35 off 24 balls to push India past the 350-run mark.
On the bowling front, it was Mohammed Shami who stole the limelight, securing five crucial wickets. His exceptional performance, along with support from Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, quickly dismantled the Sri Lankan batting order. Charith Asalanka and Dushan Hemantha were among those who had to depart early, and Sri Lanka found themselves in a precarious position with their lower-order batsmen at the crease.
Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj had provided India with an excellent start by picking up early wickets. With Sri Lanka's top order struggling, Charith Asalanka and Angelo Mathews were tasked with stabilizing their innings. However, the mountain to climb proved to be insurmountable for Sri Lanka.
Moreover, this match witnessed Virat Kohli achieving a significant milestone by surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's record for the most runs scored in a single year in the ODI format. Kohli crossed the one-thousand-run mark against Sri Lanka, a favorite opposition, in the ongoing World Cup.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, had chosen to field first after winning the toss at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. This decision resulted in Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma opening the batting for India. Rohit's early dismissal brought Virat Kohli to the crease in the very first over of the match.
In this World Cup, India, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, remains the sole undefeated team with six consecutive wins. Their goal is to be the first team to secure a place in the semi-finals.
Shreyas Iyer, playing on his home ground, has faced increased scrutiny, with 134 runs in six matches at an average of 33.50. He has been targeted by opposing teams for his perceived weakness against short deliveries.
As for Sri Lanka, their World Cup journey has been a rollercoaster ride due to injuries. After initial defeats, they made a strong comeback with wins over England and others. However, a recent loss to Afghanistan has made their path to the semi-finals more challenging.
Sri Lanka currently holds the 7th position on the ICC World Cup Points Table, with 4 points and a net run rate of -0.275. They are eager to return to winning ways and keep their World Cup dreams alive.

Khushpreet Kaur
Content Writer