Jasprit Bumrah left an indelible mark on the pages of Indian cricket history when he secured a wicket on the very first delivery of an innings in a Cricket World Cup match. This extraordinary achievement transpired during the 2023 Cricket World Cup encounter against Sri Lanka, as Bumrah unleashed an immaculate opening delivery that resulted in Pathum Nissanka\’s LBW dismissal. The ball swiftly veered away from the batsman, impacting Nissanka\’s pads high. While the initial decision favored India, Sri Lanka opted for a review, ultimately confirming that the delivery had indeed grazed the bails on the left stump. Bumrah\’s feat carved out a historic moment in the annals of Cricket World Cup history, as no previous Indian bowler had achieved this remarkable accomplishment.
Simultaneously, Virat Kohli, despite narrowly missing the opportunity to equal Sachin Tendulkar\’s record of 49 ODI centuries, witnessed the Indian batsmen excel on a pitch conducive to batting. They amassed a formidable total of 357 for 8 against Sri Lanka. Kohli, who amassed 88 runs from 94 balls, came agonizingly close to matching Tendulkar\’s milestone, which he had previously missed during a match against New Zealand in Dharamsala. His partnership with the promising Shubman Gill, who compiled a scintillating 92 at a run-a-ball pace, resulted in a substantial 189-run alliance for the second wicket.
After a brief dip in their performance, Shreyas Iyer made a resplendent comeback, accumulating 82 runs from just 56 balls against Sri Lanka\’s unimposing bowling attack on the placid track. Iyer\’s innings, characterized by six sixes and three fours, played a pivotal role in catapulting India beyond the 350-run mark, particularly following the swift departures of Gill and Kohli.
Dilshan Madushanka, who clinched 5 wickets for 80 runs in his 10 overs, foiled all three Indian batsmen\’s aspirations of securing well-deserved centuries with his shrewd deployment of slower cutters and bouncers during his second and third spells. His exceptional delivery resulted in the early dismissal of skipper Rohit Sharma.
Kohli and Gill exhibited commendable resilience against the initial challenges posed by Sri Lanka\’s bowlers and built a substantial partnership, accumulating 189 runs in a mere 179 balls for the second wicket, firmly establishing India\’s dominance. Kohli appeared poised to match Tendulkar\’s record of the most ODI centuries but was ultimately dismissed after crafting a composed innings of 88 runs from 94 balls, inclusive of 11 boundaries.
On the other hand, Gill commenced his innings cautiously but eventually crafted a compelling performance that brought him tantalizingly close to securing his first century of the tournament. He showcased his proficiency with a commanding pull shot for a four and an exquisite backfoot punch on the subsequent delivery. Gill was eventually dismissed, scoring a run-a-ball 92, which featured 11 fours and two sixes, leaving cricket enthusiasts eagerly anticipating more of his sublime batting prowess in the future.
