India haven’t been bowled out once in the ICC World Cup 2023. India didn’t allow the rivals to touch a 200-run mark in the previous three matches.

England couldn’t go beyond 150, Sri Lanka managed 55, and South Africa accumulated 83.

Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav have been unstoppable.

Shami (16 wickets), Bumrah (15 wickets), Jadeja (14 wickets), Kuldeep (12 wickets) and Siraj (10 wickets) have been magnificent for the Men in Blue.

There has been talks whether this is the best bowling attack of India in white-ball cricket. Sourav Ganguly bluntly said no.

“It is not the best pace attack of India. Zaheer Khan, Javagal Srinath and Ashish Nehra were phenomenal in the 2003 World Cup,” he told Sports Tak.

Zaheer (18 wickets), Srinath (16) and Nehra (15) took India to the final in South Africa.

“But yeah it is excellent to see Bumrah, Siraj and Shami in action. Bumrah is a class bowler and his presence makes a massive impact on the other two,” he added.

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In a recent interview with Star Sports, Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj expressed confidence in the team’s ability to win the 2023 World Cup. Siraj emphasized the strong bond within the Indian team, likening it to a closely-knit family. He believes that maintaining this positive team environment is crucial for realizing their dream of lifting the World Cup trophy.

Siraj highlighted the unity within the squad, stating that players actively engage with each other both on and off the field.

“At the moment, when you look at the team, everyone is connecting and chatting. The dressing room is filled with a strong sense of togetherness. The Indian team is just like a family,” Siraj said on Star Sports.

According to him, the team management places significant importance on every player during the ongoing campaign. The shared goal among the players is clear—they want to bring the World Cup home to India.

“We all share the same goal to bring the World Cup home for India. The team management values everyone’s opinions, giving each player the recognition they deserve. If we keep up this atmosphere, we believe we can make our dream of winning the World Cup come true,” he added.

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India currently holds an unbeaten record in the tournament, dominating every opponent they’ve faced. In their latest victory against South Africa, the Indian bowling attack, featuring Siraj alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, showcased its prowess by restricting the opposition to just 83 runs at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

This formidable bowling trio has led many to hail the current Indian bowling attack as the best-ever in World Cup history.

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Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir has weighed in on the battle for wickets between Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah in the 2023 World Cup, predicting that Shami will emerge with higher figures by the end of the tournament.

Gambhir, speaking on Sportskeeda’s YouTube channel, acknowledged the exceptional performances of both bowlers in the ongoing World Cup. Bumrah, with 15 wickets from eight matches at an average of 15.53, has showcased his prowess. Meanwhile, Shami has been nothing short of impressive, claiming 16 scalps in just four matches, boasting an incredible average of seven.

When asked to predict the leading wicket-taker between the two, Gambhir asserted that it’s a tough one.

“It’s a tricky choice. I’d go with Shami because opponents avoid challenging Jasprit Bumrah. He’s such a skilled bowler that teams hesitate to face him. Often, the top bowler doesn’t top the wickets chart because opponents prefer to play it safe. When you watch Bumrah’s early overs, no one dares to take him on. Many times, the team’s standout bowler maintains an excellent economy rate but doesn’t rack up many wickets,” he said.

Shami’s notable absence from India’s playing XI in the early stages of the World Cup did not hinder his impact. Upon his inclusion in the Indian squad, he delivered outstanding performances, including figures of 5/54, 4/22, 5/18, and 2/18.

Cricket fans will watch closely to see if Gambhir’s guess about the wickets of the two Indian bowlers is right as the World Cup goes on.

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New Zealand’s star batter Rachin Ravindra, who is also the leading run-getter in this tournament, has beaten the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, and Quinton de Kock to win the ICC Player of the Month award for October.

Ravindra has been having a sensational World Cup 2023 campaign and has broken several records on his debut World Cup campaign. Ravindra has scored 565 runs from 9 group stage matches and is just ahead of Quinton de Kock, who has scored 550 runs from 8 matches in his last ODI campaign. It also features three centuries, the most by a New Zealand player in a single World Cup campaign.

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“I am very grateful to have won this award. This has been a special month for me and the team. It has been an incredible experience to play a World Cup in India,” he further added.

“Having the support of the team is very beneficial; it allows me to play my natural game with much freedom. The fortunate thing is that the pitches have been favourable for batting, which complements my style of play that involves being aggressive and taking on the opposition.”Ravindra concluded.

New Zealand have virtually qualified for the semi-finals, as now Pakistan need to beat England by 287 runs to qualify for the semis.

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Indian pacers have been on song in the ICC World Cup 2023. Mohammed Shami (16 wickets), Jasprit Bumrah (15 wickets) and Mohammed Siraj (10 wickets) have completely destroyed other sides in the tournament.

Glenn Maxwell, who played the best ODI innings ever in the World Cup game against Afghanistan, lauded the Indian pace attack.

“They are bowling beautifully at the moment. Mohammed Shami’s seam is the most straight thing in the world. Netherlands will not be able to face them,” he said on Club Prairie Fire.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan asked Maxwell if the Indian pace unit can be neutralized.

“Play reverse lap. On a serious note, attack their pacers and try to play shots early on. Let the ball get an edge on the ground even if it is swinging. Force the Indian team to introduce a spinner early on by going hard against the fast bowlers. Mohammed Shami has been excellent. Bumrah is bowling. Siraj is the guy who can be attacked but when he gets swing, he is tough to handle,” he added.

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India’s pace duo, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj are intensifying their batting skills in preparation for the upcoming World Cup 2023 semi-final on November 15. The bowlers engaged in extended batting sessions under India’s batting coach, Vikram Rathour.

Star Sports reported from Bengaluru on Wednesday, November 9, that Bumrah and Siraj dedicated significant time to refine their batting techniques ahead of the crucial semi-final fixture. India has had trouble in past knockout matches, mainly due to batting struggles, and they want to fix that.

In previous ICC tournaments, India faced early exits because of weak performances in the top order. Now, even though captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been doing well, the team is making sure the lower-order batsmen are ready to step up if needed.

India’s dominance has been evident throughout the World Cup 2023, winning all eight matches in the tournament. With an undefeated record in the group stage, they are set to face the Netherlands on November 12 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Rohit Sharma didn’t train on Wednesday but spent time talking to batters Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill. Gill, now the world No. 1 in ODIs, focused on playing aggressively in the nets, practicing hitting boundaries and sixes.

As India prepares for the semi-final, their focus on improving batting skills shows their dedication to addressing weaknesses and putting up a strong performance to gain World Cup glory.

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In a recent interview on the Star Sports show “Follow the Blues,” former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar praised Indian captain Rohit Sharma. Bangar highlighted Sharma’s exceptional support for players recovering from injuries and facing low confidence.

According to Bangar, Sharma’s backing has played a crucial role in the successful comebacks of several Indian players returning from injuries.

“I think what sets him apart is that he has supported players who were dealing with injuries and low confidence. Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Jasprit Bumrah were all making comebacks after being injured. He made sure they felt like a crucial part of the team, that the team has faith in their abilities, and that they would have opportunities. For a player, when a captain expresses such support, it means everything. Another captain who did something similar is Sourav Ganguly, identifying players like Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan, and Ashish Nehra. So, Rohit Sharma’s contribution as a captain in this aspect is truly remarkable,” he said.

The upcoming match against the Netherlands on November 12 will mark India’s last league game in the ongoing World Cup. After their triumph in the group stage, India will now face the fourth-placed team in the semi-final. Determined to end their decade-long ICC Trophy drought, skipper Rohit Sharma and his team are ready to give their all and maintain their winning streak in the knockouts.

As the semi-final approaches, India, South Africa, and Australia have already qualified, while the fourth spot remains undecided with several teams in contention.

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On Tuesday, November 7, ICC released the list of three players nominated for ICC’s ‘Player of the Month’ award for October. The nominees feature Jasprit Bumrah, Quinton de Kock, and New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra.

Bumrah might not be the leading wicket-taker in this World Cup but he has had the most impact among other bowlers. Jasprit has taken 14 wickets in eight games with an economy of 3.91.

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Quinton de Kock, the other nominee, is the leading run-scorer of this World Cup with 550 runs in eight games. The 30-year-old has hit four centuries and became the first South African to score 500 or more runs in a World Cup edition.

Rachin has emerged as one of the most promising players in this World Cup. The 23-year-old Kiwi has struck three centuries and scored 523 runs in eight games.

The winner would be presented with a special button. Currently, Shubman Gill is the ‘Player of the Month’ award winner for September. However, it is surprising to see Virat Kohli’s name missing from this list as the 35-year-old has scored 543 runs in eight games and is the 2nd leading run-scorer.

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In a resounding victory against South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday, November 5, former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar praised India’s fast bowlers and emphasized the need for the cricket world to recognize and celebrate their exceptional skills

Akhtar, known for his blistering pace during his playing days, commended the Indian pacers after the Men in Blue defeated South Africa by a massive 243-run margin in the World Cup 2023 match.

Expressing his admiration, Akhtar asserted that it’s crucial to acknowledge Indian fast bowlers on par with their batting counterparts. Despite not taking wickets, Jasprit Bumrah played a crucial role by maintaining an impressive economy rate of 2.80 in five overs. Mohammed Siraj secured a crucial wicket, dismissing Quinton de Kock. Mohammed Shami continued his stellar performance with key scalps of Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram.

“The bowlers deserve credit for their brilliant performance. It’s about time we appreciate Indian pace bowlers as much as we do for the batters. Let’s celebrate the excellence of fast bowling in Indian cricket, they have been outstanding in the last three to four matches and stand out,” he said on his YouTube channel.

Akhtar also expressed disappointment with South Africa’s batting approach. He particularly criticized skipper Temba Bavuma and other batters for not taking charge against the Indian bowlers.

“I’m let down by South Africa; they didn’t step up or make an effort. They struggled against India, and their skipper, Bavuma, didn’t attempt to take on the pacers. He should’ve opted for a different approach. The match was too easy for India, it was like a walk in the park,” he added.

Chasing a challenging target of 327, South Africa succumbed to the Indian bowling attack. They were bowled out for a mere 83 runs in 27.1 overs. Despite having four batters reach double digits, they failed to convert, leading to a comprehensive victory for India.

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Star batsman, Virat Kohli celebrated his 35th birthday on Sunday, receiving accolades from his teammates for his unmatched hunger and passion for the game. Kohli, often likened to legends such as Sachin Tendulkar and Sir Viv Richards, is considered one of the modern era’s greats.

Since his international debut in 2008, Kohli has participated in 514 matches, accumulating an impressive 26,209 runs at an average of 54.03, with an astonishing 78 centuries and 136 fifties. Currently occupying the fourth position in the list of batters with the most runs in international cricket, he follows Sachin Tendulkar (34,357), Kumar Sangakkara (28,016), and Ricky Ponting (27,483).

Teammates expressed their admiration for Kohli in a video shared on the ICC’s Instagram handle.

“His dedication and love for the game are unmatched. I haven’t witnessed anyone with such hunger and passion,” Shubman Gill said.

“The fire and commitment to the game, even after playing for a long time, haven’t diminished. It only continues to rise. It’s something I can learn from, and I’m sure everyone watching the game can learn a lot too,” Jasprit Bumrah said.

“He embodies the fitness culture and camaraderie. His constant presence in the game is inspiring not just for us but also for millions of fans.” Hardik Pandya said.

“He’s changed the DNA of thinking around Indian cricket. How one batsman needs to perceive it. How one batter needs to prepare for a game,” Ravichandran Ashwin said.

Head coach Rahul Dravid joined Kohli’s teammates in showering accolades on the cricketing maestro.

“Virat is a cricket legend, especially in the ODI format. His performances across all formats have set a benchmark for his generation, particularly in the way he finishes games and maintains a high standard over the years,” Rahul Dravid said.

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