The Virat Kohli led Indian team entered the 2019 World Cup amongst the firm favorites to win the tournament. Hosts, England alongside India and Australia were deemed the top picks to lift the 2019 ICC 50 overs World Cup. On this day last year, the Indian Cricket Team started off it’s 2019 World Cup campaign on a winning note. Taking on South Africa at Southampton, Rohit Sharma shined brighter than light as India crushed the Proteas to register a 6 wicket win.
India began it’s ICC 2019 World Cup’s campaign on June 5 at Southampton as they took on mighty South Africa. Before the tournament began, India played 2 warm-up matches. Losing to New Zealand in the first warm-up match, India bounced back with a win against Bangladesh.
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The toss did not go Virat Kohli’s way but South Africa was made to regret their decision of opting to bat first at the Rose Bowl in Southampton.
Losing the toss, Kohli’s men fielded first as Hasim Amla and Quinton de Kock walked out to bat. India’s Jasprit Bumrah, hit it off from the word go and scalped both the South African openers. The Proteas were left languishing at 34 for 2 after 10 overs.
Captain Faf du Plessis, Rassie van der Dussen and David Millar couldn’t contribute much after getting off to a fine start in their respective innings. Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal joined in the action and troubled the South African middle order, dismissing all the 3 players.
Phehlukwayo, Chris Morris, and Kagiso Rabada contributed with the bat as South Africa tried to accumulate defendable runs. However, The Proteas were stuck in Chahal’s web as he scalped 4 wickets and restricted South Africa to a mere 227.
Indian openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma walked up to the crease as in the pursuit to chase 228 against a fierce South African pace battery. Then Men in Blue lost Shikhar Dhawan early as the opener edged one back to Q.D. Kock off Kagiso Rabada’s bowl.
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Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and MS Dhoni all played the second fiddle to Rohit Sharma who structured his innings beautifully. Rohit Sharma smacked off the SA pace attack and registered his first of the 5 World Cup 2019 hundred.
Rohit Sharma remained unbeaten and scored a magnificent 122 off 144 balls as he guided India to it;s maiden victory in the 2019 edition of the ICC World Cup.
