Indian wicketkeeper-batter and commentator Dinesh Karthik made a bold prediction about the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, suggesting that the semi-finalists are all but confirmed.
Karthik believes that Team India has already secured a place in the semi-finals after their 100-run win over England and Australia's victory over New Zealand at the ongoing Cricket World Cup 2023.
The Men in Blue were in a tricky position while batting first against England, but Rohit Sharma’s half-century and Suryakumar Yadav's 49 helped them post 229/9 on the board. Later, Mohammad Shami (4/22) and Jasprit Bumrah (3/32) proved to be too hard to handle for England as they were bundled out for 129 runs. Dinesh Kathik said in ICC Review: “I think with this win and with what happened yesterday (Australia defeating New Zealand), we are locked in for the four semi-finalists. It could be a tournament where it has been decided early and it looks more likely it will be the case unless something extraordinary happens, personally don't think will happen.”
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He continued, “We have the four semi-finalists, it's just a matter of who is going to be No.2, No.3 and No.4. I think we pretty much know who No.1 is going to be, so it is going to be a question of who is going to be facing India and who No.2 and No.3 are. It is not being cocky, it’s just the quality of cricket they are playing.”
Speaking about India versus England match, Karthik said: “At 183/7 in many ways you are playing a game that is well under-par. What was even more beautiful, was to see the likes of Bumrah and Kuldeep fight it out right at the end. That was a very positive sign. Not in terms of a partnership, but in terms of the attitude and what you want to see.”
He signed off by saying, “We saw Pakistan waste 20 balls the other day against South Africa and who knew what would have happened if they had batted those 20 balls. From a point of view of fighting battles and being there for the team and doing the hard things in the big moments, I thought India was good today.”
India will face Sri Lanka on Thursday at the Wankhede Stadium.
(With ANI Inputs)
