15 November,2023 03:35 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Shubman Gill (Pic: AFP)
India vs New Zealand, ICC World Cup 2023 semi-final: Rohit Sharma carried on with his ultra-aggressive approach to give India yet another rollicking start as the hosts put on board 118 for the loss of one wicket after 15 overs in the high-voltage ICC World Cup 2023 semi-final against New Zealand on Wednesday.
Rohit unleashed his power-packed game after winning a crucial toss, hitting four sixes and as many boundaries to make 47 off just 29 balls.
One aggressive shot too many brought about Rohit's downfall but the momentum that he set with his blazing stroke-play allowed Shubhman Gill to set his eye in.
Gill (52 not out off 44 balls) took the baton from his skipper to complete a polished half-century.
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Rohit got a couple of boundaries in the opening over before hitting Trent Boult over extra cover for a magnificent six.
There was a pulled six off the same bowler and a flicked six off Tim Southee as Rohit in short time showed his repertoire against short balls. Mitchell Santner ws greeted with a sweep and then a pulled six before holing out to Kane Williamson at mid-off off Southee.
Gill then took over and hit a flurry of boundaries but what stood out was a short arm pull off Lockie Ferguson.
Three of the four previous tournament games at the Wankhede have been won by the team batting first, with the exception Australia's stunning defeat of Afghanistan, where Glenn Maxwell's remarkable 201 not out secured a three-wicket victory.
India's Virat Kohli needs one more century to set an outright new one-day international record of 50 hundreds after he drew level with retired former team-mate Sachin Tendulkar's mark of 49 against South Africa.
Notably, India won all nine of their pool matches, but were pushed hard by New Zealand during a four-wicket success in Dharamsala last month. New Zealand, by contrast, lost four games before qualifying for the knockout stages.
Exactly four years ago, the Black Caps defeated India in a World Cup semi-final in Manchester that spanned two days because of rain. India are bidding for a third one-day international World Cup title to add to their 1983 triumph in England and 2011 victory over Sri Lanka in a Wankhede final.
(With agency inputs)
