The lanky opener had looked in fine touch during a 65-ball innings featuring eight fours and three sixes
Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill (Pic: AFP)
India vs New Zealand, ICC World Cup 2023 semi-final: India's Shubman Gill was forced to retire hurt on 79* in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023 semi-final against New Zealand in Mumbai on Wednesday.
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The lanky opener had looked in fine touch during a 65-ball innings featuring eight fours and three sixes before leaving the field with cramp. At that stage India were 164-1 off 22.4 overs.
With runners no longer allowed in international cricket, Gill had to either bat on or call a halt to his innings. He can, however, resume batting at the fall of the next wicket.
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Gill, 24, put on 71 for the first wicket with captain Rohit Sharma after the India captain won the toss, and 93 in 86 balls alongside Virat Kohli. Star batsman Kohli completed a 59-ball fifty, including four fours, to leave him halfway towards a record 50th one-day international century. He is currently level on 49 ODI hundreds with retired India great Sachin Tendulkar.
Earlier, 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. The 36-year-old 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.
One aggressive shot too many brought about Rohit's downfall but the momentum that he set with his blazing stroke-play allowed 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.
(With agency inputs)