Stellar Performance by Ravindra Jadeja
In the World Cup 2023 clash between India and South Africa, Captain Rohit Sharma expressed his delight for Ravindra Jadeja, who had a standout performance, picking up a 5-wicket haul with the ball and playing a crucial innings of 29 runs at the Eden Gardens on Sunday. India showcased their dominance in the tournament by defeating South Africa with a massive margin of 234 runs, sending a strong message as they approached the knockout stage of the competition.
Virat Kohli’s Record-Equalling Century
While Virat Kohli stole the limelight with his 49th ODI century on his 35th birthday, India had several heroes who rose to the occasion. Shreyas Iyer played a pivotal role with a crucial 77, and Captain Rohit Sharma himself provided a solid foundation with a brisk 40 on a challenging Eden Gardens pitch. Suryakumar Yadav contributed with a rapid 22, and Ravindra Jadeja’s quickfire 29 off 15 balls in the later overs ensured that India finished with a total exceeding 300 runs in Kolkata.
ALSO CHECK: Virat Kohli’s 49th Record-Equalling Century in India vs South Africa World Cup 2023 Clash
The Indian bowling attack was equally impressive, with Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav taking two wickets each, and Mohammed Siraj dismissing the in-form South African opener Quinton de Kock.
Ravindra Jadeja Bowling Masterclass
However, it was Ravindra Jadeja who stood out, particularly with his spinning prowess on the dry Kolkata pitch. Jadeja dismantled the South African middle-order, becoming only the second Indian spinner after Yuvraj Singh in 2011 to claim a 5-wicket haul in a World Cup match.
Rohit Sharma showered praise on Jadeja, acknowledging his invaluable contributions in various formats of the game. He highlighted Jadeja’s ability to understand his role and meet the team’s expectations, noting how he excelled with both bat and ball in this match.
India’s Position in World Cup 2023
India’s victory handed South Africa their most significant defeat in a World Cup and secured India’s top spot in the World Cup 2023 points table. India also equaled their best-ever streak of 8 consecutive victories in an ODI World Cup.
ALSO CHECK: ICC WORLD CUP 2023 POINTS TABLE
Rohit Sharma’s Acknowledgment of Team Efforts
Rohit Sharma also emphasized the match-winning performances of Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer with the bat. He pointed out that Kohli’s experience played a crucial role, especially on a challenging pitch. In the early overs, India raced to 91 for 1, but batting became increasingly difficult, particularly against South Africa’s spin duo, Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi. Kohli and Iyer formed a crucial partnership after the early departure of Shubman Gill. Although their 50-run partnership took more than 80 balls, they accelerated later in their innings. While Iyer was dismissed for 77, Kohli continued to anchor the innings, ultimately reaching his 49th ODI century.
Rohit Sharma stressed the importance of adapting to the pitch’s conditions and allowing players the freedom to play according to the team’s expectations.
India’s next match is against the Netherlands at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.