ICC World Cup 2023: Kohli's ton gives India fourth victory

PUNE: India clinched its fourth consecutive World Cup victory with a dazzling performance featuring a breathtaking century by Virat Kohli, a classy half-century by Shubman Gill, and a scintillating innings by Rohit Sharma. The team's stunning display secured a seven-wicket win over Bangladesh, making India the sole undefeated team, alongside New Zealand, in the tournament.

India embarked on its chase of a 257-run target on a spectacular note. Openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill forged an impressive 88-run partnership for the first wicket in a mere 12.4 overs. Rohit Sharma (48) fell agonizingly short of a half-century by just two runs, dismissed by Hasan Mahmud. Later, Virat Kohli provided valuable support to Gill (53), who reached a well-deserved half-century before departing. Virat then guided the team to victory, aided by Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul. In a grand finale, Virat (103*) marked his century with a boundary, sealing the match in style. India reached 261/3 in just 41.3 overs, courtesy of Kohli's remarkable ton.

When Bangladesh batted first, their openers, Tanzin Hasan (51) and Litton Das (66), got off to a strong start, putting up a 93-run partnership that bolstered their team's hopes. However, their dismissals occurred in quick succession, and no other batters capitalized on the promising start. Indian bowlers dismantled Bangladesh's middle-order, causing them to lose five wickets for a mere 179 runs. Mushfiqur Rahim (38) and Mahmadullah (46) later stabilized the innings, guiding their team to a respectable total of 256/8 in 50 overs. India's bowlers Bumrah (2/41), Siraj (2/60), and Jadeja (2/38), claimed two wickets each.

In the next match, India is set to face the undefeated New Zealand on October 22, while Bangladesh will take on South Africa in their upcoming game on October 24.

Scorecard:

• Bangladesh: 256/8 (50 overs)
• India: 261/3 (41.3 overs)