Virat Kohli attained an extraordinary feat on Wednesday by notching up his quinquagenarian century in One Day International cricket during the pivotal Cricket World Cup semi-final encounter against New Zealand at the esteemed Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. In a feat of exceptional brilliance, he shattered the previous record he held in tandem with cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar; the record in question is for the most One Day International centuries. Kohli achieved the coveted milestone by registering a two-fold score off the bowling of New Zealand’s fast bowler, Lockie Ferguson, during the 44th over. Having achieved a century, he fervently paid tribute to Tendulkar; standing amidst the crowd. With a stunning display of skill and precision, Kohli gracefully brought his innings to a close in the 44th over; his extraordinary talent resulted in a remarkable total score of 117 off just 113 balls.

Not only did Kohli accomplish a significant personal feat, but he also went on to surpass Tendulkar’s record of 673 runs in the 2003 World Cup, becoming the highest scorer in a single edition of the tournament. In the exhilarating semi-final showdown with New Zealand, this extraordinary accomplishment unfolded. Throughout the duration of the tournament, Kohli unequivocally established himself as the preeminent accumulative scorer, surpassing the performances of both Quinton de Kock hailing from South Africa and Rachin Ravindra representing New Zealand.

The Cricket World Cup 2023 is heating up as the stage is now set with the final four teams locked in for the semi-finals. India and South Africa secured their spots early on, while New Zealand fought hard to claim the fourth and final position in the knockout stage. On the league stage, each of these clubs demonstrated their abilities by taking on the other nine competitors one by one. India enters the semi-finals unbeaten but the pressure is on as a single defeat could mean an early exit from the tournament.

India is set to clash with New Zealand in the opening fixture at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. Reminiscent of their iconic encounter in the 2019 World Cup semi-final, which was extended over two days due to rain, this match holds historical weight. India, having faced defeat at the hands of the Kiwis back then, are determined to rewrite history this time around.

India vs New Zealand, semi-final 1: Date & Time: November 15, Wednesday, 2:00 PM IST Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Australia and South Africa will battle it out in the second semi-final. Australia, a five-time champion, overcame a shaky start on the league stage, winning seven consecutive matches to secure third spot. Meanwhile, South Africa, with seven victories in nine league matches, including a triumph over Australia, enters with confidence. While history favours the Australians, South Africa aim to overcome the challenge and secure their first-ever spot in an ODI World Cup final.

Australia vs South Africa, semi-final 2: Date & Time: November 16, Thursday, 2:00 PM IST Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

As the excitement builds, cricket enthusiasts are in for a thrilling showdown as these top cricketing nations vie for a coveted spot in the Cricket World Cup 2023 final.

In the buildup to the much-anticipated World Cup semi-final clash between New Zealand and India at Wankhede, the esteemed commentator Harsha Bhogle is raising eyebrows over the Kiwis’ bowling strategy. Bhogle is notably concerned about the absence of a fifth bowler in their playing XI, pointing out potential vulnerabilities in their approach.

Despite the presence of a potent pace trio of Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson, coupled with the skills of accomplished spinner Mitchell Santner, Bhogle questions whether this combination alone is robust enough. He specifically queries the feasibility of relying on all-rounders Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra to deliver 10 overs of bowling.

“Santner is performing admirably, but do they truly have a fifth bowler? That could be a chink in their armor, and there seem to be a few weaknesses in their side. New Zealand has faced numerous setbacks in this World Cup, especially with their beloved captain Kane Williamson. Perhaps, this upcoming match could be the turning point—only time will tell,” remarked Bhogle in the ICC Review Podcast.

Adding a layer of intrigue, Bhogle highlights a statistical quirk: throughout the World Cup, New Zealand failed to secure a single victory against the other three teams qualifying for the semi-final stage. However, he drew a parallel to their journey to the 2019 World Cup, where they didn’t triumph against the semi-finalists but emerged victorious against India.

Introduced as the illusive “X-Factor,” Bhogle raises the possibility that the Blackcaps are lacking that one unique component needed to succeed. Drawing a comparison to a top-four EPL premiership side, he likens them to an Arsenal under Arsene Wenger—competent up to a certain point but possibly lacking that unique spark.

Expressing a mix of skepticism and optimism, Bhogle contemplates New Zealand’s journey, acknowledging their competence to reach the semi-finals and the final. But he feels they could need a burst of creativity, something they might have lacked at pivotal times throughout the years.

The squads for India and New Zealand are revealed as the sides prepare for the match; they include important players who will probably be crucial to what looks to be an exciting match at Wankhede.

India squad: Rohit Sharma (c),  Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishan Kishan, Prasidh Krishna, Suryakumar Yadav.

New Zealand squad: Kane Williamson (c), Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Kyle Jamieson, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitch Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Will Young

Rohit Sharma etched his name into cricket history with two remarkable achievements in the Cricket World Cup 2023 clash between India and the Netherlands in Bengaluru on Sunday. The captain of the Indian cricket team showcased scintillating form, scoring 61 off just 54 deliveries, including 8 boundaries and 2 towering sixes. With his first six against Colin Ackermann, Rohit set a new record for the most sixes in a calendar year, reaching an impressive total of 60 sixes in 2023, surpassing the previous record of 58 set by South African legend AB De Villiers in 2015.

60* – Rohit Sharma in 2023*
58 – AB de Villiers in 2015
56 – Chris Gayle in 2019
48 – Shahid Afridi in 2010

Not stopping there, Rohit Sharma also outshone England’s Eoin Morgan, securing the record for the most sixes by a captain in a single edition of the Cricket World Cup. When Morgan hit 22 sixes in 2019, Rohit surged ahead with 24 against the Netherlands, setting the stage for more as India advanced to the semifinals.

24* – Rohit Sharma in 2023*
22 – Eoin Morgan in 2019
21 – AB de Villiers in 2015
18 – Aaron Finch in 2019
17 – Brendon McCullum in 2015

Winning the toss and choosing to bat in their final league game against the Netherlands, both India and the Netherlands maintained unchanged lineups. With India eyeing their ninth consecutive victory before their semi-final clash with New Zealand on November 15, the Dutch, already out of contention, aim to conclude their campaign on a positive note.

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, KL Rahul (w), Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav.

Netherlands: Wesley Barresi, Max ODowd,  Sybrand Engelbrecht, Scott Edwards (w/c), Bas de Leede, Colin Ackermann, Teja Nidamanuru, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, Roelof van der Merwe,  Paul van Meekere.