Xtra Time Web Desk: In a thrilling contest between the top two teams in the table, India emerged victorious with a successful chase of 274 runs, thanks to Virat Kohli’s masterful 95. The match, which had been briefly interrupted by descending fog in Dharamsala, was a roller-coaster ride from start to finish.
New Zealand, after being put in to bat, had Daryl Mitchell’s magnificent century as the highlight of their innings. Mohammed Shami’s exceptional spell (54/5) in the final Powerplay, managed to restrict the Kiwis to a reasonable total.
India’s response was ignited by Rohit Sharma (46 off 40), who continued his excellent form against New Zealand’s opening bowlers. Shubman Gill (26 off 31) played a supporting role, becoming the fastest batter to reach 2000 runs in Men’s ODIs during the opening powerplay.
The introduction of Lockie Ferguson brought a twist to the game, as he removed both Rohit and Gill. A sudden fog delay disrupted play, but Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer resumed their partnership as visibility improved. Trent Boult added to the drama by dismissing Iyer.
Kohli’s splendid half-century steadied the Indian ship, but wickets kept falling, with KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav departing prematurely. With Kohli at the helm, the chase seemed back on track.
In a nail-biting moment, Kohli had the chance to go for a century, but he was caught on the boundary while attempting to seal the deal. Ravindra Jadeja then took the reins, securing victory with a boundary, and India maintained their perfect record in the tournament with five wins from five matches.
The contest featured stellar performances, twists, and turns, making it a memorable clash at the top of the table.