Head coach Rahul Dravid, beaming with pride, shared warm embraces with players, including Kuldeep Yadav and Shubman Gill, conveying the significance of the triumph.
Batting coach Vikram Rathour shared a special moment with star batter Virat Kohli, celebrating Kohli’s record-breaking knock of 117 that surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most ODI centuries.
The camaraderie extended to the players themselves, with Ravichandran Ashwin expressing admiration for Mohammed Shami’s exceptional 7-wicket haul. Ashwin kissed Shami’s hand, a symbolic gesture of appreciation for Shami’s stellar performance.
Bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, visibly ecstatic after the victory, shared a lighthearted moment with Shami, who humorously responded, “Jawab deke aya hoon main” (I have come with a reply).
To add to the joyous atmosphere, Yuzvendra Chahal visited the dressing room, congratulating and warmly embracing players, including Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ishan Kishan.
The match itself saw India opting to bat first and posting an imposing total of 397/4 in 50 overs. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill provided a stellar start with a 71-run opening stand. Despite a resilient partnership between New Zealand’s Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell, Shami’s seven-wicket haul secured a 70-run victory for India.
Team India now awaits the winner of the second semi-final between South Africa and Australia to determine their opponent in the highly anticipated World Cup final.
Breaking: India enter World Cup 2023 final, beat New Zealand by 70 runs
(With inputs from ANI)