The much-anticipated clash between India and South Africa in the 2023 Cricket World Cup was expected to be a showdown between two cricketing heavyweights. However, what unfolded on that Sunday at Eden Gardens vividly illustrated the stark disparity between the hosts, India, and the other competing teams in the tournament.
Just three days earlier, India had delivered a resounding performance against Sri Lanka, dismissing them for a mere 55 runs and securing a massive 302-run victory over the 1996 World Cup champions. The momentum was firmly in India’s favor, with their batting and bowling units firing on all cylinders.
Virat Kohli, one of the modern greats of cricket, showcased his prowess with a century, scoring a remarkable 100 not out. He was ably supported by Ravindra Jadeja, who shone with the ball, taking five wickets. This dynamic duo propelled the host nation to a commanding 243-run win over South Africa – their most lopsided World Cup defeat to date.
South Africa had arrived in Kolkata with high hopes, given their recent success, having won six of their previous seven matches. Moreover, they held the distinction of being the only team to have defeated India when the Asian side last hosted the World Cup in 2011. In that unforgettable encounter, India had imploded, losing their last six wickets for a mere 13 runs, and South Africa had secured a three-wicket victory with just two balls to spare.
Fast forward twelve years, and South Africa faced the ignominy of being bowled out by India for a paltry 83 runs. This marked their lowest-ever total in a 50-over World Cup.
Captain Temba Bavuma acknowledged the challenges his team faced, particularly in the initial 10 overs with the ball. India’s aggressive start saw them reach 61-0 after five overs, and then 91-1 after 10 overs. Bavuma observed, “The biggest challenge was taking wickets, and India built substantial partnerships. The conditions were the key learning point. The pitch played as we anticipated, with some deterioration, but we failed to adapt effectively. It’s now up to us to adjust our skills accordingly.”
Although India’s run rate did not remain as high as the early figures of 12.2 or 9.10 runs per over over the entire 50 overs, Kohli’s steady innings of 101 off 121 balls set a daunting victory target of 327 for South Africa. Kohli’s century was his 49th in ODIs, equalling Sachin Tendulkar’s record, making him one of the most prolific century-makers in cricket history.
From the outset, South Africa faced a daunting task as opener Quinton de Kock fell early, managing just five runs. Their struggle for survival intensified, with seven of their batsmen failing to reach double figures.
India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, shed light on their aggressive approach in the first ten overs: “Going hard in the first 10 isn’t something we’ve discussed. That’s how (Shubman) Gill and I have batted together. We let our instincts take over.” Rohit emphasized the importance of adapting to the conditions and credited Kohli’s innings as pivotal. He also praised Jadeja for his all-round contribution, describing him as a “big matchwinner.”
Both India and South Africa had already secured their spots in the semi-finals before this encounter. Nevertheless, India’s commanding performance at Eden Gardens raised expectations that they might lift the 50-over World Cup trophy for the third time in their history, following their triumphs in 1983 and 2011.
In summary, the India vs. South Africa match in the 2023 Cricket World Cup highlighted India’s dominance and South Africa’s struggles, setting the stage for an exciting semi-final showdown. India’s unbeaten run in the tournament and their formidable batting and bowling units make them strong contenders for their third World Cup title. South Africa, on the other hand, will need to regroup and adapt to the challenging conditions as they aim to bounce back in the knockout stages of the tournament.
