“Let’s keep the momentum TEAM INDIA!”- Powerhouse India first display Kohli-SKY show, later bowlers outclass the Netherlands

The destructive duo of Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav, along with skipper Rohit Sharma played half-century knocks to put on a challenging total of 179/2 in 20 overs. During India’s fielding, the bowlers then did the rest of the job to restrict the Dutch side to just 123/9 in their full overs on Thursday [October 27] at the SCG in Sydney. After setting the target, combined bowling from the pacers and spinners outclassed the Netherlands.

Rohit chose to bat first which proved beneficial for Men in Blue. Kohli scored an unbeaten 62, Suryakumar impressed everyone again with his 25-ball 51-run score, while Rohit also played a captain’s innings (53 off 39 balls). The partnership between Kohli and Suryakumar has hurt teams in the past, and it was the same against the Dutch.

Suryakumar became the leading run-scorer in 2022 after this knock. He surpassed Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan to achieve this feat. Suryakumar is also ranked No.2 on the list of ICC’s batsmen ranking and is just behind Rizwan. 

The Netherlands didn’t get the desired start they wanted when Bhuvneshwar Kumar got rid of opener Vikramjit Singh (one run off nine balls) in the third over. In the fifth over, Axar Patel dismissed Max O’Dowd, and in the 10th over, Patel sent back Bas de Leede. 

Skipper Colin Ackermann could score only 17 runs off 21 balls (with a four) before Ravichandran Ashwin took his wicket in the 13th over. It was a full ball, making Ackermann smash it toward deep mid-wicket but he failed to power the shot, and Patel grabbed an easy catch. 

Only Tim Pringle reached the 20-run mark amongst the Dutch batters. He scored 20 runs off 15 balls before Mohammed Shami got rid of him in the 16th over. The full ball made Pringle chip it toward mid-off and Kohli ran behind and grabbed it comfortably.

The Netherlands were reduced to just 123/ in 20 overs; the likes of Bhuvneshwar, Arshdeep, Patel, and Ashwin scalped two wickets each, while Shami picked up one wicket, helping India win by 56 runs. Bhuvneshwar scalped two wickets and bowled back-to-back maiden overs. He has now become the first bowler to have bowled the most number of maiden overs (5) in men’s T20Is by surpassing Jasprit Bumrah.

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