Today’s semi-final between New Zealand and India in the ongoing World Cup is causing controversy due to allegations that the BCCI changed the pitch for the Mumbai game without ICC permission. The ICC’s independent pitch consultant, Andy Atkinson, typically collaborates with the home board to decide on pitches. However, a Daily Mail report claims that the agreement was disregarded for the semi-final. Originally set for pitch seven, the game has been moved to pitch six due to an unspecified problem with pitch seven. Atkinson, frustrated by the lack of clear information, flew to Ahmedabad last Friday. The pitch rotation plan at Wankhede was 6-8-6-8-7, but so far, 6-8-6-8 has been used. In an email to the ICC, Atkinson questioned if this would be the first ICC CWC final with a pitch specifically chosen at the request of the home team’s management. However, the ICC stated that changes to pitch rotations are common at the end of such events. The alteration was made based on the venue curator’s recommendation, with the ICC independent pitch consultant informed and expressing confidence in the pitch’s quality.

Virat Kohli has now scored the highest number of centuries in ODI cricket, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar. In the Cricket World Cup 2023 semifinal against New Zealand at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, Kohli hit his 50th ODI ton in 106 balls with 8 fours and a six. This achievement broke the tie with Sachin, who had 49 centuries. Kohli also set a World Cup record with eight fifty-plus scores in a single edition.

Most 50-plus scores in a World Cup edition:

8 – Virat Kohli (2023)
7 – Sachin Tendulkar (2003)
7 – Shakib Al Hasan (2019)
6 – Rohit Sharma (2019)
6 – David Warner (2019)

Moreover, Kohli secured another World Cup record by accumulating the most runs in a single edition.

Most runs in a single World Cup edition:

674* – Virat Kohli (2023)
673 – Sachin Tendulkar (2003)
659 – Matthew Hayden (2007)
648 – Rohit Sharma (2019)
647 – David Warner (2019)

In addition, Kohli’s exceptional performance contributed to India’s success in the tournament, where Rohit Sharma won the toss and chose to bat against New Zealand in the semifinal. The match took place at Wankhede Stadium, where the team batting first had won three out of four previous games. Both India and New Zealand maintained an unchanged lineup for the crucial semifinal clash.

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

New Zealand : Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson (capt), Rachin Ravindra, Lockie Ferguson, Glenn Phillips,Tom Latham (wkt),  Trent Boult,Tim Southee, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee.

Steven Smith may not play in Australia’s match against Afghanistan on Tuesday in Mumbai due to vertigo. He’s had vertigo issues before and mentioned on Monday that he wasn’t feeling well, but he hoped to recover in time for the game after practicing in the nets.

Smith said, “I’ve had a bit of vertigo the last day or so, so it’s been quite bothersome. Hopefully, I can get through training today and be okay. It’s not a pleasant experience; I’ve had a few episodes in the past. But I’ll practice and hope to be fine for the game.”

When asked if this would affect his participation in Australia’s eighth league-stage match with their semi-final spot still uncertain, Smith responded, “No, I think I’ll be alright. I’m not feeling great now, but I’ll practice and see how it goes, so hopefully, I’ll be fine.”

After the press conference, Smith batted in the nets without initial discomfort. He faced throwdowns and practiced his strokes. However, he later appeared unwell and left the field with support staff members while his teammates continued to bat.

Smith has previously dealt with vertigo issues, and it affected his recovery from a concussion last year. In this World Cup, his performance hasn’t been at its best, with 205 runs and an average of 29.28 per innings.

Smith acknowledged his disappointment with his performance, saying, “I’ve had some promising partnerships but would have liked to score more runs. I feel like I’m hitting the ball well, so I hope to improve in the later stages of the tournament.”

During a key match at the Cricket World Cup 2023, Sri Lankan cricketer Angelo Mathews faced an unusual situation. He was declared ‘timed out’ while playing against Bangladesh in Delhi. The incident occurred in the 25th over, when Bangladesh’s captain, Shakib al Hasan, bowled the second ball. Angelo Mathews came to the crease after a teammate was dismissed, but he soon realized he had the wrong helmet. He explained the situation to the Bangladesh players and the umpires.

A substitute from Sri Lanka eventually brought the correct helmet, but by that time, Bangladesh had already appealed for a ‘timed out.’ According to the MCC rules, after a wicket falls or a batter retires, the incoming batter must be ready to face the ball or for the other batter to face the next ball within 3 minutes. If this time limit is not met, the incoming batter is declared ‘timed out.’

However, in the Cricket World Cup 2023’s specific playing conditions, incoming batters are expected to be ready within 2 minutes. If they exceed this time limit, they are also declared ‘timed out.’

Former Sri Lankan cricketer Russel Arnold, who was providing commentary during the match, expressed that he had never seen such a situation before.

In a stellar display of cricket prowess, the Indian cricket team secured their eighth consecutive victory in the 2023 World Cup, dominating South Africa at Eden Gardens. This remarkable streak has earned them accolades from the cricketing world.

India’s resounding win over South Africa, by a staggering 243-run margin, further solidified their position at the top of the World Cup points table. The match showcased their unwavering dominance in the tournament.

Former Pakistani cricketer Hasan Raza recently stirred up controversy with accusations of India manipulating the Decision Review System (DRS) to their advantage in the World Cup campaign.

Raza, in a conversation on a Pakistani TV channel, cited an example from the match to substantiate his claim. He pointed to the dismissal of Rassie van der Dussen, questioning the technology used for DRS.

Raza elaborated on the incident, stating that Jadeja’s delivery pitched on the leg stump but managed to hit the middle stump. He raised concerns about the ball’s trajectory and its impact, advocating for scrutiny and transparency in such cases.

Raza didn’t limit his allegations to just one match; he suggested that India had employed similar tactics in their match against Pakistan in this World Cup as well. He emphasized that India’s ‘home advantage’ may be contributing to their success.

‘Home advantage’ was a major factor in India’s dominant performance at this year’s ODI World Cup,” Raza said.

He thought of the famous event between Sachin Tendulkar and Saeed Ajmal from the 2011 World Cup.

Cricket fans have debated and discussed Raza’s assertions, raising questions about how technology may affect cricket match outcomes.

Within the world of Indian cricket, the names of Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli elicit hopes and dreams that span decades of supporters. They have been subjects of countless comparisons, a testament to their combined greatness. However, their impact on Indian sports extends far beyond mere statistics. They have consistently exceeded the expectations of a billion-plus population in their unique ways. Nevertheless, there are certain milestones that demand attention, like the one Virat Kohli achieved at the iconic Eden Gardens during a Cricket World Cup 2023 match against South Africa on Sunday.

At a venue where Sachin Tendulkar delivered many unforgettable performances, Virat Kohli emphatically matched a world record previously held by the cricketing legend. Sachin Tendulkar held the world record for 49 ODI centuries, a mark that Virat Kohli has now reached in 277 innings. He has an excellent chance of breaking this record in the current World Cup of cricket. It’s interesting to remember that Virat Kohli’s first ODI century came at Eden Gardens against Sri Lanka in 2009.

Virat Kohli has long been considered the worthy successor to Sachin Tendulkar in the Indian batting lineup. Over the past decade and a half, he has consistently lived up to these expectations, steering India to victory with his remarkable batting prowess. Sunday’s feat carries added significance for several reasons. Firstly, the attainment of 49 ODI centuries is a milestone that was once deemed unattainable until Sachin Tendulkar accomplished it. Now, two Indian cricket legends have achieved this extraordinary feat. Secondly, this statistical milestone reaffirms that Virat Kohli is unquestionably the rightful heir to Sachin Tendulkar’s legacy.

This century was Virat Kohli’s 79th in international cricket (including 29 in Tests and 1 in T20Is), and he reached the milestone during the 49th over of the match with a single off Kagiso Rabada.

In his own words, Virat Kohli expressed his thoughts on this journey:

“If we talk about cricket, I had never thought of achieving it all, as in where my career is and how God has blessed me with such a career span and performances. I had always dreamt I’d do this, but I never thought things would pan out this way exactly.” He added, “Nobody can plan these things, the way your journey is going, or the way things unfold in front of you. I hadn’t thought that I’d score so many centuries and so many runs in the last 12 years.”

Clearly, Virat Kohli’s journey into the world of cricket is destined to witness many more historic milestones.

England’s captain, Jos Buttler, openly shared his disappointment after witnessing his defending champions exit the Cricket World Cup, acknowledging that it’s a painful experience. In a disheartening turn of events, England suffered a 33-run defeat at the hands of their arch-rivals, Australia, marking their sixth loss in seven games during the tournament. Buttler, his spirit clearly deflated, admitted, “It certainly feels like a low point. I’ve had a few but definitely as a captain.

” The gloom of the moment was palpable as he continued, “To be stood in this position having arrived in India with high hopes is incredibly tough and disappointing. It hurts a lot.” Despite dismissing Australia for 286 runs, England couldn’t muster the firepower to chase the target, falling short at 253. As a result, the defending champions found themselves languishing at the bottom of the table, with two games still to play.

Buttler acknowledged his disappointment, adding, “We are disappointed.”. I feel like we are having the same chat after every game at the minute. We haven’t done ourselves justice. Coming into the tournament, we fancied ourselves to have a real go and push whoever it was going to be all the way.” He went on to emphasize the weight of their letdown, saying, “We’ve let ourselves down. We’ve let people down at home who have supported us through thick and thin, and we bear the consequences.

” In contrast, Australia’s tournament campaign appeared to be picking up steam, and they appeared to be well-positioned to reach the semi-finals.. Occupying the third spot in the standings with 10 points after a fifth consecutive victory, Australian skipper Pat Cummins reflected on their journey, saying, “It’s been great.The boys have played beautifully, and we’ve won every game.” Despite their triumph, Cummins remained critical of their performance, saying, “I feel like we’ve improved a little bit with each game.” I still don’t believe we’ve completed the game.”

In a standout display against arch-rivals England, Australian spinner Adam Zampa delivered a match-winning performance that he dubbed the “most satisfying” ODI of his career. Zampa’s contributions were multi-faceted, including a blazing 29 off 19 balls at the crease, a tight bowling spell of 3/21, and a spectacular running catch that dismissed David Willey.

Reflecting on his performance, Zampa expressed his satisfaction, saying,

“It’s probably the most satisfying ODI I’ve ever played to be honest.”

He highlighted the importance of his partnership with Starc in the batting innings, emphasizing the need to balance aggression with sensible play. Zampa was particularly pleased with his batting contribution, and he acknowledged that fielding wasn’t necessarily his forte, making the catch even more gratifying.

Zampa’s excellence extended to his bowling performance, where he managed to dismiss crucial players like Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, and skipper Jos Buttler. He described this as one of his most satisfying bowling efforts, especially considering the quality of the batsmen he faced, mainly left-handers.

Although Test cricket has yet to see Zampa’s debut, he approached the subject with a pragmatic outlook. He admitted that while he was hopeful for a chance, he understood the challenges, especially in subcontinental conditions. Despite missing out on the tour of India, Zampa shifted his focus to the World Cup, with an eye on the upcoming T20 World Cup as well.

“There aren’t a lot of leg spinners playing Test cricket at the moment either. I was hopeful, obviously would have loved to have still played that in that test series but as soon as I found out I wasn’t playing and kind of saw how the games were going in that series I started concentrating on the World Cup. We’ve got this one and obviously the T20 World Cup coming up next year as well so there was plenty to look forward to,” he added.

Mitchell Marsh will rejoin the Australia squad for the World Cup in Mumbai on Sunday after missing the game against England in Ahmedabad on Saturday. He had gone home for personal reasons, and the players wore black armbands as a mark of respect for his grandfather, Ross, who passed away on Friday.

Australia’s next match is on Tuesday at the Wankhede Stadium, where they will face Afghanistan in the semi-final. Cricket Australia has confirmed that Marsh is likely to be available for selection.

In this World Cup, Marsh has scored 225 runs in six innings, including one century against Pakistan and one half-century against Sri Lanka. He initially opened the batting but moved to No. 3 when Travis Head returned from injury.

Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins, praised Marsh as one of the standout players in the tournament and has plans for him in the main XI when the full squad of 15 players is available. Glenn Maxwell, who missed the England game due to a concussion, is also expected to be available against Afghanistan.

One of Australia’s decisions could be whether Marnus Labuschagne, who top-scored against England with 71, should retain his place. He wasn’t initially in the World Cup squad but has played in all 15 of their ODIs since.

Shreyas Iyer, the Indian cricketer who recently showcased his skills with a blazing 56-ball 82 against Sri Lanka, emphasized the importance of team performance over individual milestones, especially in a tournament as prestigious as the World Cup. Despite India posting a formidable total of 357 for 8 against Sri Lanka, none of the key batters, including Shubman Gill (92), Virat Kohli (88), and Iyer himself, managed to reach the coveted century mark.

India’s batting brilliance was somewhat overshadowed by an exceptional bowling display from Mohammed Shami (5-1-18-5), Mohammed Siraj (7-2-16-3), and Jasprit Bumrah (5-1-8-1), which contributed to their resounding 302-run victory, marking India’s largest win in 50-over format cricket.

Speaking to the media after the victory that secured India’s spot in the World Cup semifinals, Shreyas Iyer reiterated the significance of prioritizing the team’s goals:

“This is the stage where you play for the team. Don’t play for your individual performance.”

While he acknowledged discussions about missing out on centuries or half-centuries, he emphasized that in crucial situations, he would have to challenge the bowlers without dwelling on personal milestones.

Reflecting on his own performance, Iyer mentioned,

“Like if I’m batting in the 47th or 48th over, I won’t be thinking. I was sighting the ball pretty well. It’s just that I missed out on that particular ball…and a few balls here and there, I could have reached 100. But nonetheless, there are a few more matches to come, and hopefully I’ll be able to achieve that milestone,” expressing his optimism for the matches ahead.

Iyer lauded India’s bowling performance as “surreal” as they bundled out Sri Lanka for a mere 55 runs in just 19.4 overs, marking the third time this year that India had managed to restrict their opponents to less than 100 runs. While comparing the two dominant bowling performances against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final and the World Cup, Iyer pointed out the difficulty in making a direct comparison due to his different roles but highlighted the collective effort of the bowlers and fielders in supporting the team’s success.

“As a bowling unit, and also as a fielding unit, we supported our bowlers by taking a few catches here and there. The team is in a great state of mind,” Iyer concluded, highlighting the unity and confidence within the Indian team.