India becomes 2nd most successful team in ODI World Cup history

India’s ODI World Cup 2023 campaign just got better as they annihilated England on Sunday, October 29 with a 100-run win in Lucknow. This was India’s sixth win on the trot in the ongoing edition of the marquee event. The ‘Men in Blue’ are yet to lose a match. This was also the first time India defended a total in the 10-team tournament. Incidentally, this was their 59th win in ODI World Cup history, making them the second-most successful team after Australia. The five-time champions are sitting at the top of the pile with 73 victories.

India went past New Zealand’s tally of 58 wins in the history of the showpiece event. England have 50 wins in ODI World Cups, while Pakistan have 47. South Africa and West Indies have 43 wins apiece.

India also has the second-highest winning percentage in ODI World Cups. They have come up trumps on 65.56 percent of their matches in the prestigious tournament. Australia once again tops this list with a win percentage of 73. The Proteas are in the third position, having a win percentage of 61.43.

Rohit Sharma, bowlers wreak havoc against bruised England

England’s Jos Buttler won the toss and invited India to bat first. England bowled with discipline and were rewarded with early wickets of Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer. However, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul steadied the ship with a 91-run partnership.

The Indian skipper started flamboyantly before dropping anchor as wickets fell from the other end. He was eventually dismissed for 87 off 101 balls. KL Rahul departed 11 runs short of his half-century. Suryakumar Yadav guided India to a 229-run total, which looked just below par on the sluggish track at the Ekana Stadium.

In reply, Jonny Bairstow and Dawid Malan gave England a brisk start before Jasprit Bumrah struck off two consecutive deliveries to bring the hosts back into the contest. Mohammed Shami continued from where he left against New Zealand and picked up a couple of wickets inside the first PowerPlay. Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali tried to form a partnership but Kuldeep Yadav dismissed the wicketkeeper-batter with a peach of a delivery. Eventually, the defending champions succumbed to a 100-run defeat, their fifth in the ODI World Cup 2023. India reclaimed the pole position on the points table with this thumping victory.