Page 7 - Cricket World Cup

World Cup 2023: Batting to bowling, factors that punctured Pakistan's hopes

An outdated batting approach, dismal performance of the spinners, lack of back-up options and selection blunders have led to another early World Cup exit for the forever unpredictable Pakistan unit. Heading into the Asia Cup that preceded the World Cup in India, Pakistan was the top-ranked ODI side but like it is the case often, the rankings don't paint the whole picture. By the end of Asia Cup, Pakistan were left with major concerns but the management chose to back the same set of players for the World Cup and ended up with an underwhelming campaign. Pakistan's last semifinal appearance in the ODI World Cup came way back in 2011 when India beat them on their way to glory. PTI looks back at the shortcomings of the Babar Azam-led side, which squandered a golden opportunity to make an impact on Indian shores. Top-order performance ============== Pakistan had carried an out of form Fakhar Zaman to the World Cup but he was dropped after the team's opener against the Netherlands in .

World Cup 2023: Records galore as India hammer 410 for 4 versus Netherlands

India shattered several records during their monumental innings of 410 for four against the Netherlands in their World Cup final league match here on Sunday. While skipper Rohit Sharma (61) re-wrote many records, Shreyas Iyer (128 not out) and KL Rahul (102) also contributed few of them. Here is a look at the records scripted during India's innings: - Rohit has struck the most number of sixes in the ODIs in a calendar year, taking his 2023 tally to 60, surpassing AB de Villiers' previous record of 58 in 2015. - Rohit became the captain to hit the most sixes in an edition of the World Cup (24), going past Eoin Morgan (22) of England. - Rohit and Shubman Gill have been involved in most 100-plus stands in ODIs this year (5). - Rohit has scored the most runs in a World Cup edition (503) among Indian captains, going past Sourav Ganguly (465 in 2003). - Rohit joined Tendulkar in scoring 500-plus runs in multiple World Cup editions (2). Rohit is also the first to do so in successive ..

World Cup 2023: India On 'Cloud Nine' after Shreyas, Rahul fireworks

KL Rahul's pillaging hundred, the fastest by an Indian in World Cup, and Shreyas Iyer's doubts-allaying 128 lit up the Diwali day as India mowed down Netherlands by 160 runs here on Sunday, registering their ninth consecutive victory in the showpiece. It helped India finish their league engagements with 18 points, and now they will move to Mumbai for the high-stakes semi-final clash against New Zealand on Wednesday. Rahul's blitz and Iyer's posh unbeaten 94-ball hundred combined well with fifties by Shubman Gill (51), Rohit Sharma (61) and Virat Kohli (51), powering India to a mammoth 410 for 4, their second highest World Cup total. Thus, India became the third team in this tournament to post 400 after South Africa and New Zealand. The Indian bowlers did not have to sweat much to skittle the Dutch for 250 as even Kohli and Rohit, who took the final scalp, found themselves among the wicket-takers. The Indian innings was dotted by two big stands that brilliantly exhibited aggressive

World Cup 2023: Dravid feels thare is undeniable pressure of semi-final

India head coach Rahul Dravid has no hesitation in admitting that his side's World Cup semi-final against New Zealand on Wednesday would be a high-pressure game and there are simply no guarantees even after a near flawless performance in the nine league games. "I would be in-authentic if I say that there will be no pressure of semi-final. You have no guarantees to win any game of cricket. What you can do is prepare the best you can and we've been doing that," Dravid told Star Sports after India's 160-run win over the Netherlands. It now boils down to two good matches and everything could come to a naught if India lose to a team that had caused them grief in 2019. "When it's going well it looks good. One loss and everyone says you don't know anything," Dravid replied cheekily when told about how the broadcasters were analysing his performance in the league games. Dravid was particularly happy with how Shreyas Iyer has been showing consistency at the back-end of the tournament. "Shr

World Cup 2023: Rohit Sharma says good results keep dressig room lively

Enjoying each other's company in a lively dressing room atmosphere has been possible due to good results and vice-versa is also true, said skipper Rohit Sharma after yet another clinical performance that took Indian team's victory count to nine on the bounce. India ended their World Cup league stage beating the Netherlands by 160 runs here on Sunday, and skipper Rohit described their campaign so far as a clinical one. "We enjoy each other's company. We wanted to play with enjoyment on the field. We try to keep the atmosphere outside lively. The results do matter to keep the dressing room lively. We are playing in India, there will be expectation. We wanted to do the job at hand. It's one thing to talk about it but for everyone to buy into it is very important," skipper said after the game. Rohit's men topped the league standings with 18 points and face fourth-placed side New Zealand on November 15 in Mumbai in the first semi-final. "Very pleased at how we've played in these nine ..

World Cuyp 2023: Kuldeep feels India need early wickets at tough Wankhede

Ahead of their World Cup semifinals against New Zealand, Indian left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav on Sunday said Wankhede remains a tough venue for bowlers, and the hosts would require early wickets to get on top of the Kiwis. India will face New Zealand in the last four match in Mumbai on Wednesday. It is a difficult venue to bowl. The bounce is true and batsmen often dominate there. Unlike in T20, of course, the bowlers have plenty of time to come back into the game," said Kuldeep after India defeated the Netherlands by 160 runs to finish their league engagements on an all-win note. "But yes, you need a couple of early wickets to get on top of the game and opponents. The match against New Zealand will be a repeat of their 2019 semifinal in Manchester which the Kiwis won by 18 runs. However, Kuldeep did not read too much into past records. The 2019 semifinals (against NZ) was four years ago. We have played a lot of bilateral series after that, so we know the conditions (in India) a

IND vs NED Highlights, World Cup 2023: India enter semi-finals unbeaten

India vs the Netherlands Highlights, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: India scored 411 runs and then bowled out the Dutch for 250 to earn a big 161-run win to enter the semi-finals unbeaten

Cricket World Cup 2023 IND vs NED Playing 11, toss result & live streaming

ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, India vs Netherlands live streaming: Hotstar will livestream India vs Netherlands World Cup match in India for free (mobile users).

World Cup SF: What happens if SA vs AUS semis gets washed out in Kolkata

If bad weather prevents South Africa vs Australia semi-final from finishing on Nov 16, the match will resume on Nov 17 on the reserve day. But what will happen if reserve day is washed out, check here

World Cup 2023: Don't judge our middle-order by mere numbers - Rahul Dravid

There was a hint of concern surrounding the Indian middle-order, particularly around KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer ahead of the World Cup, but head coach Rahul Dravid on Saturday expressed his delight over the manner in which they responded to the task at the showpiece. Rahul returned from a tendon injury during the recent Asia Cup while Iyer had to battle against a back spasm before getting fit just in time for the marquee event. While they have not set the stage ablaze, Rahul's tally of 245 runs andIyer's 293 runs have allowed India a good degree of batting solidity in the tournament. "How well your middle-order performs in challenging situations under pressure, is going to probably decide how well you do. While our top order batters performed exceptionally well, I think our middle-order played very critical roles," Dravid said. Dravid was not worried about the fact that the numbers of players like Rahul and Iyer were not as glossy as some other batters in the side. "You can't judge

Virat Kohli: Sessions with Paddy Upton helped me find perspective again

Virat Kohli has been pretty open about his struggles with mental health issues and the former India captain acknowledged that sessions with national team's ex-mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton helped him in regaining the perspective during T20 World Cup in Australia last year. Kohli hit an unbeaten 53-ball 82 (6x4s, 4x6s) including a stunning straight six over Pakistani bowler Haris Rauf's head to turn the game upside down. Upton, who was Gary Kirsten's assistant during India's 2011 World Cup campaign, was brought back by the Indian board on a short-term basis for the 2022 global T20 meet. The modern day batting great said having constant conversations with Upton helped him get into a strong space. "I had a lot of conversations with him, and I really appreciated him in that moment because he constantly kept me in check with my checkpoints of being present. Keep doing things that you did when you were playing good cricket," Kohli told Star Sports. "What I went through, what is

Dravid on Spirit of Cricket row: One can't be blamed for following rules

Angelo Mathews' first-of-its-kind timed out dismissal against Bangladesh in a World Cup match has again stirred the debate about Spirit of Cricket' and India head coach Rahul Dravid on Saturday said a player should be allowed to follow the rules of the game to the letter, if he wishes so. The heated deliberations started after Mathews was declared timed out following an appeal of Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan after the Sri Lankan batter could not get ready in time to face his first ball, coming in after the dismissal of Sadeera Samarawickrama. Everyone thinks differently. We are all unique creatures and we have our own minds and thoughts. There is no real right and wrong. It's fine to have those differences," said Dravid. When someone wants to take the letter of the rule to the last Nth degree, I don't think you can complain about it because, honestly, he's just following the rules as he sees it. You might not do it yourself. But you can't blame somebody for following it. Turn

ENG vs PAK Highlights, World Cup 2023: England win, reach Champions Trophy

England vs Pakistan Highlights, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: England qualified for the Champions Trophy 2025 in style as they defeated Pakistan by 93 runs to win their last World Cup game

AUS vs BAN highlights: Australia register 7th consecutive win in World Cup

ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, Australia vs Bangladesh highlights: They ended third due to inferior net run-rate compared to South Africa despite having same number of points (14) with the Proteas.

Cricket World Cup 2023 ENG vs PAK Playing 11, toss result, live streaming

ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, England vs Pakistan Playing 11: Pakistan brought in Shadab Khan in place of Hasan Ali in their playing 11 while England remained unchanged

SA vs AFG Highlights, World Cup 2023: Coetzee, vd Dussen win it for Proteas

South Africa vs Afghanistan Highlights, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: Azmatullah Omarzai's 97* went in vain as the Proteas chased down the target of 245 with five wickets and 15 balls to spare

World Cup 2023: ICC suspends Sri Lanka Cricket with immediate effect

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) was suspended by the ICC with immediate effect for showing an inability to remain autonomous in managing its affairs

Cricket World Cup 2023 SA vs AFG Playing 11, toss result and live streaming

ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, South Africa vs Afghanistan live streaming: Hotstar will live stream the South Africa vs Afghanistan World Cup match in India for free.

World Cup 2023: How Pakistan is still mathematically in race for semis spot

Pakistan, who will take on England in Kolkata on Saturday, will have to win by 287 runs if they bat first. If they chase, Pakistan will have to win with 284 balls -- more than 47 overs -- to spare.

World Cup: Playing against India in semifinal to be challenging- Williamson

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson said on Thursday it would be "challenging" for his side to play hosts India if his team is "fortunate enough" to book a place in the semifinal of the World Cup. The Kiwis secured a five-wicket victory against Sri Lanka in their last league stage encounter here, as barring massive wins for Pakistan and Afghanistan against England and South Africa respectively, nothing can stop Williamson's side from locking the last semifinal berth in the World Cup. Chasing 172 for victory, New Zealand knocked off the target in 23.2 overs to give their net run rate a massive boost, leaving both Pakistan and Afghanistan with a mountain to climb to secure the last available semis slot. Asked whether the Kiwis were looking forward to a last-four clash with India, Williamson said, "Playing semis is special but playing the home team will be challenging. Looking forward to it if we are fortunate enough to have it." Afghanistan will need to win by more than 400 runs agai