ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

04 Jun 2023

India flaunted their batting firepower in their World Cup 2023 match against Sri Lanka as three of their batters went hammer and tongs at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, November 2. India ended the wait for a 300-plus total in the World Cup even as the likes of South Africa and Australia were getting those big scores for fun on batter-friendly pitches in the marquee 50-over tournament.

India posted 357 for 8 in 50 overs despite none of their batters getting to a hundred. Shubman Gill top-scored with 92, agonisingly missing out on his maiden ODI World Cup hundred. Virat Kohli hit 88, 12 runs short of getting his 49th ODI hundred and equalling Sachin Tendulkar's all-time ODI record at his legendary batter's home ground.Shreyas Iyer provided the much-needed late impetus with a quickfire 82 in just 56 balls as India batters were on fire at the iconic venue.

Dilshan Madushanka stood out from the rest of the Sri Lankan bowlers, picking up a 5-wicket haul but he also gave away 80 runs as the opposition bowlers got a tap from the run-hungry Indian batters.

INDIA WITH 350-PLUS TOTALS IN WORLD CUPS

373 for 6 in 50 overs vs Sri Lanka in Taunton in 1999
413 for 5 in 50 overs vs Bermuda in Port of Spain in 2007
370 for 4 in 50 overs vs Bangladesh in Mirpur in 2011
352 for 5 in 50 overs vs Australia in London in 2019
357 for 8 in 50 overs vs Sri Lanka in Mumbai in 2023

It was the first time India went past the 300-run mark in the ongoing World Cup. India chased in their first 5 matches and they did not have an opportunity to post 300 as their bowlers were on fire. India batted first for the first time against England in Lucknow on Sunday and their batters managed only 229, thanks to a match-winning 87 from captain Rohit Sharma.

However, on Thursday, after Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to field, India made the most of the good batting conditions. Despite losing Rohit Sharma for 0, India rode on a 188-run stand between Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill. The two batters got out when nearing their hundreds to Dilshan Madushanka.

However, Shreyas Iyer, who was in need of some runs, stepped up to the party, hitting 6 sixes. He took on bouncers with more confience after having gotten out to short balls three times earlier in the World Cup. Iyer sent the Sri Lankan bowlers on a leather hunt as he was crucial to India posting in excess of 350. He got out while trying to accelerate in the end overs.

Notably, 357 is the highest total by a team in a World Cup innings without a centurion.