India defeated New Zealand in the first semi-final of the ICC World Cup 2023 tournament in Mumbai on November 15. The Men in Blue qualified for the final of CWC 2023 with a 70-run win over the BlackCaps.
Thanks to centuries from Virat Kohli (117) and Shreyas Iyer (105), contributions from Shubman Gill (80*) and Rohit Sharma (47), India posted 397/4 in 50 overs. Then in response, New Zealand made 327 runs with Daryl Mitchell scoring 134 runs and Kane Williamson scoring 69.
Mohammad Shami with 7/57 was the pick of the Indian bowling and also got Player of the Match as well.
India will now play in the final of the tournament which will be held in Ahmedabad on November 19, Sunday.
As a tradition, India fielding coach T Dilip announced the name of the winner of the best fielder medal from the semi-final match. There were a few contenders like Mohammed Siraj, who was brilliant in the outfield, Ravindra Jadeja, who took a hat-trick of catches, and KL Rahul, who was brilliant behind the stumps.
Jadeja had been impenetrable at backward point and then in the deep, took three consecutive catches. KL Rahul took a brilliant diving catch of Devon Conway and his keeping was neat throughout the match.
T Dilip praised everyone for their performance and as he was reaching the announcement and praising KL Rahul, the keeper told the coach that he should get the medal. But Dilip asked the players to watch the small TV in the dressing room to see the winner.
Ravindra Jadeja won the best fielder medal for his catches and he received the prize from Suryakumar Yadav.
Before handing over the medal to Jadeja, Suryakumar Yadav said: “Cheete ki chaal, Baaz ki nazar, aur Royal Navghan ki fielding se koi nahi bach sakta.”
