Shreyas Iyer hit 105 in 70 balls with 8 sixes and 4 fours.
India batted first after Rohit Sharma won the toss and posted 397/4. Virat Kohli starred with 117, Shubman Gill made 80* and Rohit Sharma had given a fiery start with 47 in 29 balls. But the real impetus to the Indian innings in death overs was given by Shreyas Iyer.
Iyer hammered 4 fours and 8 sixes in his 70-ball 105 runs.
India's former opener Gautam Gambhir, recognized Iyer's terrific knock and stated that the batter's innings wasn't applauded as much as the other players' performances in the match. Virat Kohli’s 117 was his 50th ODI ton, going past legend Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 centuries.
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And then Mohammad Shami picked 7/57 to keep New Zealand to 327 runs. This was the best bowling figures by an Indian in ODIs and World Cups.
“I said it on air, and I want to repeat it. He was the game-changer against New Zealand. I guess he doesn't have many followers on social media, that's why he didn't get as much praise. He's playing his first World Cup. You expect Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to perform in big games because they have experience. Kohli is playing his fourth World Cup, Rohit has played 3. Shreyas is playing his first,” Gambhir said on Star Sports.
“It is unfortunate that he isn't getting as much appreciation as others. Shreyas Iyer, for me, has produced unbelievable batting. He didn't let the pressure get to Virat Kohli. The difference between 350 and 390 was Shreyas Iyer. Imagine how much pressure India would have been in, if India had set a target of 350,” Gambhir further said.
India remains the only undefeated team in the tournament so far and will aim to end the World Cup invincible when they meet Australia in the final on Sunday, November 19 in Ahmedabad.