Page 52 - The Indian EYE 102023

SPORTS OCTOBER 20, 2023 | The Indian Eye 52

In the match against Afghani-
“Everyone’s hurting....,” says stan, Hardik Pandya picked up two
Pat Cummins after loss wickets in his seven-over spell and
gave away 43 runs. Pandya did not
ollowing his side’s 134-run loss have to come to the crease since the
to South Africa in their ICC
FCricket World Cup match, top Indian batting lineup made no
mistake during the run chase.
Australia captain Pat Cummins said
that the team has to adapt to all con-
ditions if they want to be challenging In the first inning, Afghanistan
and added that everyone is hurt after gave a target of 273 runs af-
the loss.
This is Australia’s biggest loss ter Hashmatullah Shahidi and
in WC history. Following this win, Azmatullah Omarzai played a
South Africa now leads the World
Cup standings with four points from knock of 80 and 62 runs re-
two victories, while Australia finds spectively.
itself in second-to-last place, ninth
in the rankings, after losing both of In the second inning, Indian
their matches. opener Rohit Sharma played a stel-
“I thought Quinton (de Kock)
batted really well, could not get a lar knock of 131 runs from 84 balls to
take the Men in Blue to a comfort-
breakthrough. From where they able position in the game. Following
were, we were quite happy with 310, Rohit’s dismissal, Virat Kohli took
thought it was chaseable. Looked Hardik Pandya celebrates his birthday with former cricketer Gautam Gambhir prior to the charge of the game and scored 55
like hard work out there tonight, match India and Afghanistan on Wednesday (ANI) runs from 56 balls and slammed a four
their bowlers bowled really well, to clinch a win at his home ground.
think it nipped around a bit more un- in the opening game of the WC, In- ahead of the major encounter.
der lights. (On if it would have been dia’s captain made a comeback with India has dominated the head- Bumrah on playing against
easier to bat first) Really hard to say, an astonishing ton in a match against to-head record in ODI World Cup
if we want to be challenging in this Afghanistan. matches with Men in Blue winning Pakistan at home
tournament we need to find ways of In the same match, Rohit all seven games against the arch-rival. ndia’s star pacer Jasprit Bumrah
performing regardless of batting first slammed his seventh century at the “It is good for both the teams is looking forward to the high-
or second. Do not think much needs men’s ODI World Cup, the most by that after so many years the match is Ily anticipated World Cup clash
to be said tonight, everyone is hurt- any player, surpassing legendary In- being held in India. Hopefully, this against Pakistan which will be played
ing, we will try and take a couple of dia cricketer Sachin Tendulkar. will be a good match,” Yuvraj added. in front of his home crowd in Ahmed-
days off and then make amends to Yuvraj expressed that India skip- abad on Saturday.
come back stronger in the next one. per Rohit has so much capability “It was special and thank Bumrah will play his first 50-over
There are a few things we need to that he can break any record and the international game in front of the
tidy up,” said Cummins in a post- flamboyant batter used to bat in the you”: Hardik Pandya home crowd.
match presentation. middle order before taking a spot as ollowing India’s eight-wicket However, he had played a Test
Coming to the match, Australia
opted to field first. Quinton de Kock an opener for Men in Blue. win against Afghanistan in the match against England in the Nar-
endra Modi Stadium two years ago.
“Rohit Sharma has broken many Fninth ODI World Cup match
(109 in 106 balls, eight fours and five big records, I think he has so much at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi This time he will be returning to the
sixes) smashed his second successive capability that he can break any re- on Wednesday, star allrounder Har- same ground but against a different
WC ton. Aiden Markram (56 in 44 cord. He is definitely one of the greats dik Pandya celebrated his 30th birth- opponent and certainly with stakes
balls, seven fours and a six) and skip- of the game. He has scored 31 ODI day with his teammates in the dress- being way higher than before.
per Temba Bavuma (35 in 55 balls, two hundreds which is a big achievement. ing room. “Yeah, obviously I’ve been away
fours) also played some solid knocks He is still not done yet and hopefully, The Board of Control for Crick- for a while now. I’ll be happy to see
to power SA ti 311/7 in 50 overs.
he will win India a World Cup as cap- et in India (BCCI) shared a small my mother at home. I’m going to see
“Hopefully, India will win tain. He played the role of an opener glimpse of the birthday celebration her. That’s the first basic thing for
in the second stage. Before he used
on their official X account.
me. It’s obviously playing at home.
under Rohit’s captaincy”: to play in the middle order,” Yuvraj “For the birthday boy from I have not played a one-day interna-
Yuvraj Singh exclusively told ANI. #TeamIndia From the birthday boy tional there. I played a test match. So
After registering two back-to- to everyone,” BCCI wrote on X while yeah, the atmosphere is going to be
ormer India player Yuvraj back wins, India riding on high con- sharing the video. exciting. I’m sure a lot of people are
Singh is hopeful that India will fidence will face traditional rival While speaking in the video, the going to come. So, it will be a sight
Fwin the ICC 2023 World Cup at Pakistan here at the Narendra Modi 30-year-old thanked everyone for the to see. So yeah, hoping for the best
home under Rohit Sharma’s captain- Stadium in Ahmedabad on Satur- birthday wishes. He later added that over there,” Bumrah said in the post-
cy and labelled the opener as one of day. The rivalry between India and it was a special moment for him to match press conference.
the greats of the game. Pakistan in cricket is one of the most play on his birthday. The experienced pacer was also
During his 84-ball 131 against fierce in the world, with matches be- “Thank you everyone for the quizzed about whether his perfor-
Afghanistan on Wednesday, Rohit tween the two countries receiving wishes. It means a lot for me to play mance against Afghanistan which
shattered several records, including significant global viewership. on my birthday for the first time in saw him dismiss four batters will give
passing West Indies legend Chris India began their World Cup my life. It was special and thank you him confidence as he prepares to go
Gayle for the most sixes in interna- campaign with a victory over Austra- to the fans and my teammates for up against the likes of Shaheen Shah
tional cricket. lia, while Pakistan has two victories showing so much love,” Pandya said Afridi, Mohammed Rizwan and
After being dismissed on duck in two matches to build momentum in the video. Babar Azam of Pakistan.

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