In the 9th showdown of the ODI World Cup 2023, staged at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium, Team India squared off against Afghanistan. This enthralling clash bore witness to an extraordinary feat as India effectively chased down the objective of 273 runs with a mere 2 wickets lost, achieving a slew of momentous milestones along the way.
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India’s Dominance in the Powerplay
In the initial 10 overs, India asserted their supremacy during the powerplay phase by amassing an extraordinary 94 runs against Afghanistan. This impressive performance secured the second highest powerplay score for India in ODI World Cups.
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94/0 vs. Afghanistan, Delhi, 2023
97/2 vs. Sri Lanka, Hobart, 2012
91/1 vs. Sri Lanka, Colombo, 2021
87/0 vs. South Africa, Nagpur, 2011
83/1 vs. West Indies, Port of Spain, 2019
A Glorious Run Chase
India’s quest to reach the 273-run target set by Afghanistan ranks as the fourth-highest triumphant run chase in ODI World Cups. The zenith in this category remains India’s pursuit of 288 runs against Zimbabwe in 2015.
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288 vs. Zimbabwe, Auckland, 2015
275 vs. Sri Lanka, Mumbai (Wankhede), 2011 (Final)
274 vs. Pakistan, Centurion, 2003
273 vs. Afghanistan, Delhi, 2023
265 vs. Sri Lanka, Headingley, 2019
Delhi’s Stellar Run-Chasing Prowess
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The exhilarating chase in Delhi witnessed India securing the second-highest successful run chase in ODIs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, with their highest chase standing at 288 runs against Sri Lanka in 1982.
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278 – India vs. Sri Lanka, 1982
273 – India vs. Afghanistan, Delhi, 2023
272 – Sri Lanka vs. India, 1996
239 – India vs. Australia, 1986
238 – India vs. England, 2011
Setting the Tempo
India’s pursuit of Afghanistan’s 273 runs at a staggering run rate of 7.8 per over establishes the highest run rate for successful run chases of 250 or more in ODI World Cups.
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7.8 run rate – India vs. Afghanistan, Delhi, 2023
7.78 run rate – New Zealand vs. England, Ahmedabad, 2023
7.75 run rate – Bangladesh vs. West Indies, Taunton, 2019
7.13 run rate – Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka, Hyderabad, 2023
7.05 run rate – India vs. Ireland, Hamilton, 2015
Rohit Sharma’s Monumental Feat
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Captain Rohit Sharma led the charge with an extraordinary innings of 131* runs. His stellar performance led to the establishment of numerous records:
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Rohit Sharma now holds the record for the most centuries (7) in ODI World Cups, eclipsing Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of 6 centuries.
He achieved the distinction of becoming the fastest century scorer for India in ODI World Cups, surpassing Kapil Dev’s record.
Rohit Sharma’s innings featured 5 sixes, elevating him to the position of the player with the most sixes in international cricket, surpassing West Indies’ Chris Gayle.
This historic victory and the unparalleled achievements of Rohit Sharma underscore India’s unwavering strength and resolve on the global cricket stage in CWC23.
