Page 43 - The Indian EYE 111023

SPORTS NOVEMBER 10, 2023 | The Indian Eye 43

wickets) to become India’s highest
wicket-taker in World Cup history.
In the Cricket World Cup, Sha-
mi has a total of 45 wickets in just
14 matches, with the best figures
of 5/18. Shami is the sixth-highest
wicket-taker in WC history, with the
highest being Australia’s Glenn Mc-
Grath (71 wickets in 39 matches).
Shami is the only Indian bowl-
er to have three five-wicket hauls in
the Cricket World Cup. Only Mitch-
ell Starc of Australia has taken three
five-wicket hauls in the tournament
besides the Indian pacer.
“Time for India to start cele-
brating their fast bowlers”
Pakistan’s iconic speedster
Shoaib Akhtar showered praises on
India’s pace trio after they orches-
trated a 302-run victory against Sri
Lanka in the ongoing World Cup on
Thursday at the Wankhede Stadium.
Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah
and Mohammed Shami combined
to take nine wickets and finished off
the game with more than 30 overs to
go.
The ‘Rawalpindi Express’ was
impressed with the overall perfor-
mance of the three pacers as they
reduced Sri Lanka to a score of 55
and clinch a thumping victory. “In-
dia is becoming a ruthless side from Shreyas Iyer plays a shot during the match against Sri Lanka in Mumbai on Thursday (ANI)
this point the onslaught cannot be
stopped but my request to Indians
is to start celebrating your fast bowl- India’s encounter with arch-rival Pa- ple are picking that up every now and Sachin crossed the four-dig-
ers because everyone was happy and kistan. then and it plays on your mind regu- it mark in a single year in the ODI
there was a lot of noise on each de- In the post-match press confer- larly and you keep working on that,” format seven times in 1994, 1996-98,
livery at the Wankhede Stadium. I ence, Iyer was quizzed about short Iyer added. 2000, 2003 and 2007.
am personally happy for Shami he ball being a problem for him and Iyer Iyer then went on to say that on a Kohli’s knock of 88(94) was his
has found his rhythm back he has in reply snapped at the reporter and surface like Wankhede where he has 10th 50-plus score in the ODI this
claimed so many wickets and has said, “When you say it’s a problem played a lot of cricket, he knows how year. Shubman Gill is leading the
surpassed, Siraj is running, Bumrah for me what do you mean?” to tackle the delivery. Even if some chart with twelve 50-plus ODI scores
is lethal he is giving them comfort to The reporter rephrased his ques- of his shots work or don’t it doesn’t in 2023.
both of them to bowl freely,” Shoaib tion and asked “Not a problem, prob- mean that a particular delivery be- Virat’s game-changing knock
said in a video posted on X. lem exactly but it has troubled you.” comes his weakness. against the Lions also brought up his
To which Iyer replied, “Troubled 118th 50-plus score in the ODI for-
Shreyas Iyer defends me? Have you seen how many pull Kohli surpasses mat.

his pull shots shots I’ve scored? Especially which Sachin’s record in ODI Virat and Gill’s 189-run stand
has gone for four.” was India’s second-highest part-
hreyas Iyer who produced a Iyer went on to state that as bat- ndia’s stalwart batter Virat Kohli nership against Sri Lanka in World
match-winning performance for ters they can get out on any delivery surpassed iconic Sachin Ten- Cups. The first spot still belongs to
Sthe Indian team in their thump- whether it is a short delivery or an Idulkar’s record by becoming the Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly’s
ing 302-run victory over Sri Lanka on over-pitched delivery. batter with the most thousand runs sensational partnership of 318 runs
Thursday in the ongoing World Cup, “If you’re trying to hit a ball, scored in a single year in the ODI at Taunton in 1999.
snapped at a reporter during the you’re bound to get out anyway. Ir- format. Former India captain howev- Virat was on the brink of match-
post-match press conference. respective it’s a short ball, it’s an over er failed to match Sachin’s record of ing Sachin’s record of 49 ODI centu-
Iyer played a sensational knock pitch. If I get bowled two or three most ODI centuries (49). ries but Dilshan Madushanka got the
of 82 in the middle overs to steer In- times, you all would say that, OK, Virat crossed the one thousand better of him with a slower delivery.
dia to a massive total of 357/8 in the he can’t play an in-swinging ball. He run mark in the 50-over format He timed it a tad early and aimed it
first innings. He displayed a variety can’t play a cut if a ball is seeming,” against his favourite opposition Sri towards short cover, Pathum Nissan-
of shots from his arsenal, which also Iyer said. Lanka in the ongoing World Cup on ka dived low to take a stunning catch.
included pull shots. “So, see, we, as players are Thursday at the Wankhede Stadium. Kohli and Gill’s partnership
In recent times, Iyer has lost bound to get out on any sort of de- In his decorated career, Virat laid down a strong base for India
his wickets a number of times while liveries. You guys have created that crossed the four-digit mark for the to put up a massive total against Sri
attempting to play a pull shot. This environment outside that he can’t eighth time which came during 2011- Lanka and secure their place in the
was noticed in the Aisa Cup during play a short ball. And I feel that peo- 14, 2017-19 and 2023. semi-finals.

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