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In a stellar display of skill and determination, Team India have emerged as the only unbeaten side in the ODI World Cup 2023, securing victories in all nine of their league matches. Their remarkable journey has set the stage for an intense first semi-final clash against New Zealand at Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium on November 15.
Three pillars of success: Batting, Bowling, and Fielding
Team India’s success in the league matches can be attributed to the outstanding performance of all three departments – batting, bowling, and fielding. The players have excelled in each aspect, contributing significantly to the team’s flawless run in the tournament.
Aakash Chopra’s perspective on India’s biggest strength
Former India opener Aakash Chopra has weighted in on the ongoing debate regarding Team India’s primary strength. While acknowledging the commendable batting performances, especially the 410-run onslaught against the Netherlands in the last league match, Chopra emphasized that the bowling unit stands out as India’s biggest strength as they advance to the semi-finals.
“India’s biggest strength – I will say the bowling, although all three parts are playing their roles properly. However, I feel we are doing the best job in bowling. Batters are fine, they are doing well, they scored 400-plus runs in the last match as well, and we have seen them score 350-plus runs also,” said Chopra on his YouTube channel.
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The five fingers making a fist
Chopra highlighted the exceptional performance of the bowlers, emphasizing that they have combined the “five fingers to make a fist” in this edition of the World Cup. Despite India being traditionally known as a batting powerhouse, the bowlers have stepped up, showcasing their prowess and versatility.
“However, it’s the bowling. Bowling makes it absolutely exceptional. Suddenly you feel all boxes are ticked. India is a batting country, so we celebrate the batting, we produce very good batters as well, but the bowlers have combined the five fingers to make a fist this time,” added Chopra.
India’s bowling unit has indeed been the backbone of their success in the tournament. Leading the charge is Jasprit Bumrah, who holds the position of the highest wicket-taker with an impressive tally of 17 scalps. Following closely are Mohammed Shami and Ravindra Jadeja, each with 16 wickets to their names. Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj have also made substantial contributions with 14 and 12 wickets, respectively.
