India’s unstoppable journey in this year’s 50-over World Cup continues to be a trailblazer, all thanks to Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Jasprit Bumrah for their much-hyped fiery deliveries. Their spectacular performance against Sri Lanka paved the way for India to claim a resounding 302-run victory on Thursday, securing their place as the first team to reach the semi-finals. With an unblemished record of seven wins in this World Cup, this triumph certainly stands out, as Sri Lanka’s batting lineup succumbed in under 20 overs while pursuing a challenging target of 358 runs.
A little while back, Bangladesh’s Sri Lankan coach had said, “This Indian team is scary.” Going by the record in ICC World Cup 2023, this holds true for Team India. For older fans of Cricket, this whole new transformation of the Indian Cricket team has come as a surprise. People in the stands were captured with expressions of disbelief as the performance of the Indian team seemed too good to be true.
Sachin Tendulkar legacy
The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai reverberated with chants of “Sachin, Sachin” as Sachin Tendulkar held aloft the trophy. The crowd was thrilled to see Tendulkar mimicking a bouncy delivery, a moment that was captured on the big screen. Tendulkar’s career has seen him play alongside greats like Kapil Dev, Anil Kumble, and Zaheer Khan, but this bowling unit was unique.
Harbhajan Singh, who has been in dressing rooms with Srinath, Nehra, and Zaheer and has seen serious pace from close quarters, was blown away by Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Mohammed Shami. He praised their speed, swing, and seam, stating that India now produces pacers, a title previously held by Pakistan.
Breaking the stereotypes
The Indian team’s skills are now being recognized, breaking previous stereotypes. Bumrah’s first delivery to Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka showcased his unique bowling style, leaving Nissanka trapped in front.
Captain Rohit Sharma succinctly summarized the team’s performance, praising the seamers’ ability to move the ball both ways and their lethalness when the pitch offers something. This combination of bowling skill and audacious batting can be termed the Great Indian Swag, the current sensation in the country.