Team India outplayed New Zealand in all facets of the game to register a comprehensive 70-run victory in the first semi-final of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Wednesday (November 15).
Opting to bat first, the hosts piled up a mammoth 397/4 on the board thanks to stunning hundreds from Virat Kohli (117 off 113) and Shreyas Iyer (105 off 70). Shubman Gill (80* off 66) and Rohit Sharma (47 off 29) also played valuable knocks at the top.
During his record-breaking century, Kohli was seen struggling with cramps and it was then some Kiwi players opted to assist the star India batter.
This gesture from the New Zealand players didn’t impress former Australian cricket Simon O'Donnell.
"I had a problem a couple of times last night. Virat Kohli gets cramp, they're (India) heading for 400 (runs) and (New Zealand) blokes go over and help him," O'Donnell said on Sen Radio.
"Why would you go and help Virat Kohli when he had a cramp? When they're heading for 400. In a World Cup semifinal. Spirit of the game is playing within the laws. Virat Kohli is tearing your country apart and you want to go over and give him a hand."
When asked if it made any difference to the outcome of the match, O'Donnell insisted that the New Zealand players shouldn't have gone anywhere near Kohli when he was cramping.
"Don't care. Under no circumstances should you have gone within 20 metres of Virat Kohli when he had a cramp.
"He (Virat) threw his bat away and one of the Kiwis went and picked it up. 'Go and pick your own bat up while you've got a sore hamstring and a cramp. Stop hitting us for sixes and fours'.
"That's not a big deal. That's not outside the spirit of the game. It's being competitive and saying, 'Ok, he's being physically challenged, why are we assisting him to stay physically ok to belt the crap out of us?'
"I don't get it, I just don't get it. Stuff helping him out, he's made 50 One-Day hundreds, why help him make the 50th against you in a World Cup semifinal? Give me a spell."
Coming to the match, Mohammad Shami returned with a seven-wicket haul (7-57) to help India bundle out the BlackCaps for 327 in 48.5 overs.
The Rohit Sharma-led side will now face either Australia or South Africa in the World Cup 2023 final in Ahmedabad on Sunday (November 19).
(With PTI Inputs)
