Byte-sized briefings on all things World Cup 2023

October 20

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Kohli, bowlers devour Bangladesh in Pune

Scorecard | Report

For the first time (since 2-3), India showed signs of weakness. Momentary weakness. Momentary panic. A momentary absence of a Plan B, when Bangladesh’s openers seemed to be running away with it in the first fifteen overs. And then came the spin choke. As opposed to the T20 World Cup semi-final last year, India did not panic. They weren’t clueless. Different format, agreed, but the middle-overs masters ripped through Bangladesh, as Vijay Tagore writes in his match feature.

But then again, it was a rookie opener Tanzid Hasan, who did give India a scare. Atif Azam writes about the prodigious southpaw in his featurette.

And then of course, there was Rohit Sharma 2.0, who, along with Shubman Gill, went on an early rampage against the Bangladesh quicks to put them off their game – before another six and out situation with a shot that has been a bittersweet influence in his life: the hook. A massive, towering six was followed by another flatter hook – which was well within the reach of the boundary rider, and Rohit was off, rehearsing some choice words for the dressing room mirror.

But then, it was Virat Kohli all the way after that, breaking record after record, but in the limelight was the one he didn’t break last night – Virat Kohli 48 – 49 Sachin Tendulkar.Despite the denied singles, the frustrating extras, and the wide that wasn’t given, Kohli smashed a six to get his hundred, unlike KL Rahul against Australia, who had timed it far too well. And India made it 4 in 4 – only behind New Zealand, their next opponents, on net run-rate.

Oh and Shubman Gill got his maiden World Cup fifty, amidst all of that.

Injury: India’s Hardik Pandya headache

Hardik Pandya, who objectively brings balance to the Indian side, injured his left ankle while trying to stop a ball on his followthrough, and had to be taken off the field – a horrifying sight for the Indian fan. However, it was mentioned that he would have batted if required during the match, and his scans have been sent to Mumbai for further examination, as per reports.

What’s on the menu yesterday?

The party comes to Bangalore – after two weeks of the Cricket World Cup, it finally arrives in the tech hub of the country. It’s an underperforming, unfamiliar Australia up against a deflated Pakistan, what with their humiliating loss to arch-rivals India. Each will be looking to feed of the other’s vulnerability. Australia are historically known to be incredible at that. And remember, it’s only really been three games. Best-case scenario, either of the sides can still top the table.

However, recent events must be taken into account. Australia are coming off their first win, and Pakistan, their only loss. And it’s simply impossible not to take Australian World Cup history account, what with a trophy win in every host country the World Cup has been played in.

In the last 36 years, Australia is a team that has – as the phrase goes – completed cricket. A T20 World Cup win in 2021, a World Test Championship title in 2023, and 5 titles in the World Cup. Safe to say, even if Pat Cummins denies it, Australia is on the upturn – as Bharat Sundaresan says in his match preview. And of course, there’s a head-to-head between the two sides, if you really want to get into it.

Sri Lanka: The bottom-brooders’ woes worsen

With three losses in three games, despite spirited performances, Sri Lanka have more personnel troubles, as Matheesha Pathirana and Dasun Shanaka (now ruled out of the tournament) added to the list of casualties in their squad. As a result, travelling reserves have been added to the squad, which includes a couple of familiar names. Can Sri Lanka turn it around?

Orange is the new brag

And finally, it was the Netherlands’ Paul van Meekeren’s journey of playing for the Netherlands, leading to his account of how they delivered the second official upset of the tournament, by beating a rampant South Africa in Dharamsala.