India made history by winning all nine league matches of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. The Men in Blue, unsurprisingly, cruised through to the semi-finals, but what was surprising, however, was the scale of dominance they were able to assert over their group stage opponents. The two-time World Cup winners didn't just beat their adversaries - they did so comfortably.
(Streaming | Scorecard | Preview | Full Coverage)
Furthermore, India's dominant league display was built on a collective effort; the batting unit and the bowling unit worked in harmony to create music that made the Indian fans go gaga. India's glorious list of Player of the Match winners from their nine games, so far, provides evidence for the same. Six different players feature on the list, with three - Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Mohammed Shami - appearing twice. Here's how it goes.
India's Player(s) of the Match in ICC Cricket World Cup 2023:
India vs Australia - KL Rahul
Opening your campaign against the record champions is no easy task, but KL Rahul and team India made it look as such in their comfortable victory versus Australia. Rahul scored 97, unbeaten, in 115 balls on the day, nearly half of India's 201 total, as the Men in Blue successfully chased a modest Australian target with overs to spare.
India vs Afghanistan - Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma's blistering innings against Afghanistan ensured successive wins to start the tournament for India, putting them on the front foot with semi-final qualification the aim. Sharma scored 131 off 84 balls as the 1983 and 2011 World Cup winners chased down a 273 target easily.
India vs Pakistan - Jasprit Bumrah
A disappointing batting effort from the collective saw Pakistan collapse for just 191 against their bitter rivals India. Part of the reason for their failure, however, was Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who took home the Player of the Match trophy with his spell of two wickets and 19 runs.
India vs Bangladesh - Virat Kohli
Though known for his knack of crossing big thresholds time and time again, Virat Kohli took his sweet time to add another World Cup ton to his name. The man who scored a century on his ODI World Cup debut, scored another against Bangladesh - 103 off 87 - as the Men in Blue produced another triumphant chase.
India vs New Zealand - Mohammed Shami
Five wickets, 54 runs - spelt the numbers alongside Mohammed Shami's name at the end of the New Zealand innings against India. The Blackcaps had pitched up 273 runs from their 50-over inning; it could've been a lot more, however, if not for the brilliance of the Indian pacer.
India vs England - Rohit Sharma
Reigning champions England looked to have thwarted the Indian juggernaut by restricing them to a lowly 229 total. However, the Three Lions' batting struggles meant that the Men in Blue still managed to register a 100-run-win, continuing their march toward the next round. Rohit Sharma, for his 87 off 101, took home the Player of the Match honours following the win.
India vs Sri Lanka - Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Shami made it two Player of the Match wins for himself from three games following another masterful display with the ball, this time claiming another five wickets - for just 18 runs - while India bowled Sri Lanka out for 55.
India vs South Africa - Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli celebrated his 35th birthday in style; the Indian batter raced to a 101 unbeaten in 121 balls. India stacked a 326-run target for South Africa to hit, but bowled their opponents out under 100, recording another massive win and confirming top spot for themselves in the league stage.
India vs the Netherlands - Shreyas Iyer
Desperate for his maiden World Cup century, Shreyas Iyer joined the list of the Indian Player(s) of the Match(es) by smashing 128 runs off 94 balls. India registered 410 runs on the board, which the Dutch didn't even come close to threatening.
India vs New Zealand, Semi-Final - Mohammed Shami
With a spell of seven wickets for 57 runs, Mohammed Shami collected his third Player of the Match award of the tournament, helping India return to the ODI World Cup final after 12 years. Shami outshone Virat Kohli, who's 50th ODI ton helped him enter cricketing history.
