World Cup 2023: Unbeaten India down Netherlands in group fixture

India on Sunday maintained its unbeaten streak in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023 as the Men in Blue inflected a 160-run defeat on the Netherlands in the group match at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.

India will now play New Zealand in the first semi-final of the World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 15.

Despite a bad start, losing their first wicket for five runs in the second over, the Dutch made a decent comeback in the game and avoided a collapse.

Max O'Dowd (30) and Colin Ackermann (35) provided their side some stability but both the batters ended up losing their wickets before their side scored 100 runs.

Taking advantage of the colossal total, Rohit Sharma used all the available bowlers at his disposal as eight different players bowled today including Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill Suryakumar Yadav and himself.

Kohli took a wicket in his second over, removing the Dutch's skipper Scott Edwards for 17 runs.

The entire Dutch side was out for 250 runs in their chase of a 411-run target.

Batting first, India posted a mammoth 411-run target for Edwards' men courtesy of a commanding display by their batting side.

The day belonged to the Indian batters as all the six batters — except Suryakumar Yadav who only played one ball — showcased their batting skills and played great knocks.

India, as usual, started on a high note as the opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill combined for 100 runs in just 11.4 overs before the latter departed for the pavilion while the former continued to showcase his attacking prowess.

After Gill, Kohli came to bat looking for his record 50th ODI century. The 34-year-old did complete his half-century but he was bowled by Roelof van der Merwe for 51.

Kohli left India at 200-3 in 28.4 overs and that is when Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul took over the charge and formed an astonishing 208-run partnership that helped the home side post 410 runs — the second-highest total of this World Cup — on the scoreboard.

Iyer was well set on the wicket when Rahul came to bat that is why he continued to play attacking cricket and eventually reached his well-deserving century.

KL Rahul started slowly as he completed his fifty on 40 balls but then accelerated his innings rapidly as he ended up completing his century on 62 balls, scoring the last 50 runs in just 22 balls.

Iyer remained not out for 128 off 94 balls while Rahul lost his wicket after scoring 102 off 64.