2023 World Cup top run-getters and wicket-takers after India vs Pakistan match (Updated) ft. Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah
India bagged a comprehensive seven-wicket win over their arch-rivals Pakistan in the 2023 World Cup on Saturday to claim the top rank on the points table. Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad hosted this one-sided contest.
On a flat track, India captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bowl first, keeping the dew factor in mind. Jasprit Bumrah displayed his excellence with a miserly spell.
Mohammed Siraj, on the other end, started with the swing on offer but failed to bowl good lines and lengths. As a result, he conceded a few boundaries to both openers, Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq.
Just when Indian bowlers were leaking runs, Mohammed Siraj came up with a cross-seam delivery that skidded with variable bounce to catch Shafique plumb in front of the stumps for 20.
A few overs later, Hardik Pandya's pitched-up delivery drew a thick edge of well-set Imam-ul-Haq's willow to have him caught behind on 36.
At 73/2, Pakistan needed a big partnership. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan bailed their team out of trouble with an 82-run third-wicket partnership. Siraj finally broke the duo's sedate but crucial partnership with a delivery that skidded through and jagged in to bowl Babar Azam for 50 runs off 58 balls.
Saud Shakeel and Iftikhar Ahmed followed suit a few overs later, thanks to Kuldeep Yadav's wiles. Pakistan lost three of their wickets for just 11 runs in the gap of 21 balls, staring down the barrel at 166/5 in 33 overs.
With the game turning upside down, Rohit decided to kill the game, bringing in Jasprit Bumrah. The ace pacer sent Rizwan back to the pavilion on 49 with a slower off-cutter that zipped onto the timber. Shadab Khan too followed the queue with a brilliant delivery which straightened a bit after being angled in, clipping the top of off stump.
Eventually, Pakistan got bundled out for 191 runs in 42.5 overs. Bumrah, Siraj, Pandya, Jadeja, and Kuldeep bagged two wickets apiece with Shardul Thakur getting to bowl just two overs without a wicket.
In reply, both Indian openers, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, sprinted away with a flurry of boundaries. But the latter had to depart for 16 runs when he smashed a Shaheen Afridi short and wide delivery straight to point. However, Rohit continued his aggressive innings, finding the fence quite frequently.
Surprisingly, Virat Kohli couldn't live up to expectations as the star batter was sent back by Hasan Ali for just 16 runs. After scoring a 63-ball hundred in the previous game vs. Afghanistan, Rohit continued his red-hot form, scoring a 36-ball fifty.
He went on to smack pull shots for fun and got dismissed on 86 runs off Afridi’s slower ball. Later, Shreyas Iyer (53* off 62) and KL Rahul (19* off 29) took the team home, by the 31st over, to bag a seven-wicket victory.
Without any further ado, let’s take a look at the top run scorers and wicket-takers of the 2023 World Cup.
2023 World Cup Most Runs List
Pakistan keeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan rose through the ranks to hold the leading position on the batting chart with 248 runs from three innings. He has accumulated these runs at an average of 124 and a strike rate of 93.58.
New Zealand opener Devon Conway slid down to the second rank, having amassed 229 runs from three innings. India captain Rohit Sharma moved up to occupy the third position, with 217 runs.
South Africa opener Quinton de Kock has the fourth position with 209 runs from two innings. Kusal Mendis moved down to the fifth slot, with198 runs.
2023 World Cup Most Wickets List
Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah climbed up the ladder, with eight wickets to take over the leading position. New Zealand star bowlers Matt Henry and Mitchell Santner occupy the second the third ranks, respectively, with eight wickets apiece.
Pakistan pacer Hasan Ali strengthened his fourth position, with seven wickets from three innings. South African speedster Kagiso Rabada is at the fifth position, having bagged five wickets.