[Vinod_nair]

Enjoying the demolition @Eden Garden.
The game will be over before my dinner time.

The 2 new finds of this CWC 2023 till now.
Rachin NZ
Noor Ahmed AFG

[ABHI_1512]

Today’s match with South Africa is bringing back the memories of the infamous 96 semifinal between India and Sri Lanka at the Eden Gardens. Jadeja is almost turning the ball square in the second innings just like that infamous match where the ball started turning in the second innings !!

[dailydriver]

Anybody feeling that despite the King's ton, it is Jaddu who deserves to be the Man of the Match?

Some quick runs and very fine dismissals should push his case forward sufficiently.

[SoumenD]

Originally Posted by dailydriver

Anybody feeling that despite the King's ton, it is Jaddu who deserves to be the Man of the Match?

Some quick runs and very fine dismissals should push his case forward sufficiently.

Yup. His quickfire 29 in 1st inning was superb and if he gets a fifer, mostly will pick the MoM.

But kohli’s inning as well was gold considering how hard it was to bat on. Birthday, century count equalling the great Tendulkar followed by a MoM award. Would be a fairy tale ending to the day.

Lovely watching the demolition. Hope we continue this intensity and lift the cup

P.S- Its a fifer but sadly not enough for the award

[vijaykr]

And the match ends well ahead of schedule again. Proper shellacking is what this is. For a team placed 2nd in the points table, this loss will be a difficult one to digest for sure.

And the Indian juggernaut rolls on

3 more matches to go and hopefully we have the Cup at the end of it. Cheers!

[dailydriver]

Virat Kohli - the birthday boy - wins the match by 18 runs!

The Indian bowling unit is being clinically precise, giving the team the courage to take the fight to the opposition camp even when the runs on board are not humongous. South Africa lost the chase plot with Quinton's early dismissal.

Regarding the Man of the Match, let's just assume that it was a return present to the birthday boy for gifting a century to his fans.

I feel for bowlers in general and Jaddu in particular (fifer and yet ). They deserve to be rewarded more often. Specially when six out of the eight matches in this World Cup have seen the opposition being bowled out!

[searacer932]

Indian bowlers bowled with a "special" skillset to give a "special" win on the back of a Virat Kohli's "special" 100

[Fx14]

Originally Posted by SoumenD

But kohli’s inning as well was gold considering how hard it was to bat on. Birthday, century count equalling the great Tendulkar followed by a MoM award. Would be a fairy tale ending to the day.

Just one piece missing. When SA were 8 wickets down, was hoping that Kohli would be given to bowl an over - who knows he could have ended up with a wicket or two.

After all, he did get one Kevin Pietersen out on his zeroth ball bowled.

[NPV]

My only fear is the law of averages catching up and would hate to see a repeat of either 2003 or 2015 happen. After the inconsequential last game versus Netherlands, we just need to play 2 good games to win the 2023 edition of the World Cup. Fingers crossed!

[rajivr1612]

I didn't see law of averages catching up with Australia when they were at their peak in 2003 and 2007 editions. Why should India be any different?

[Capri89]

I would suggest the following changes to the knockout format going forward.

1. If any team remains unbeaten and finishes top of the table that team goes into final directly. This is a reward for consistency.

2.The second and third placed teams can fight it out for a place in the final.

3. No place for the fourth placed team to even contest the semi final with three or more losses. (Imagine in the current edition NZ or Pak with already 4 losses each having one good game during the knockout and reaching the final. That would be a travesty of justice to both India and SA).

4. Where two teams are tied at the top of the table during round robin (they may have one loss each or may have a tied match etc.) the semis and final can then take the traditional format.

Any other views to improve the system is welcome.

[NomadSK]

Originally Posted by Capri89

Any other views to improve the system is welcome.

Agree with you, top 2 teams will have this disadvantage. A bad day in the field and will be knocked out.

They (ICC) don't have to look anywhere else. Just copy the IPL format for Qualifier/Playoff's, If this playing format goes ahead in the WC ODI's.

First 2 teams get 2 shots at the finals, would be fair enough for the top 2 teams, also this will heat up the competition to grab to top 2 spots.

[StarrySky]

It is in the nature of knock-out tournaments like this that a couple of good days or one bad day can drastically change the fortunes of a team. I think we as fans need to live with it.

Perhaps it would have been better for this year's tournament to have two groups of 5 teams each, with teams in one group playing each other twice, and the top 2 from each group reaching the semis. This would have kept the number of matches almost the same (commercial interests), but would have avoided the feeling we Indian fans have now, "We beat (almost) everyone already. What if we now have a bad day in Semi or Final?"

[am1m]

Originally Posted by dailydriver

I feel for bowlers in general and Jaddu in particular (fifer and yet ). They deserve to be rewarded more often. Specially when six out of the eight matches in this World Cup have seen the opposition being bowled out!

Someone give that man Jaddu a medal! Like Yuvi in 2011, if we win this time it's going to have a lot to do with his contributions. He too clearly deserved the mom award yesterday. Is there a way to share the award?

Originally Posted by StarrySky

It is in the nature of knock-out tournaments like this that a couple of good days or one bad day can drastically change the fortunes of a team. I think we as fans need to live with it.

More than live with it, I like it! I won't be as nervous, as excited, as superstitious (everyone keep sitting in the same damn spot, no going to the bathroom even, till the match is over otherwise a wicket will fall!), as anxious when my team is superior. And I wouldn't be as hopeful, as superstitious (again, wicket will fall!), etc when my team is clearly not as strong. Were it not for a knockout scenario in either case!

Again, might not be fair, but sure is more exciting.

[Revvatron]

Originally Posted by StarrySky

Perhaps it would have been better for this year's tournament to have two groups of 5 teams each, with teams in one group playing each other twice, and the top 2 from each group reaching the semis. This would have kept the number of matches almost the same (commercial interests), but would have avoided the feeling we Indian fans have now, "We beat (almost) everyone already. What if we now have a bad day in Semi or Final?"

They won't go for such format. Only because every team wants to play against India as that's where the viewership/gate receipts are. Also teams like AUS/SA/NZ might end up in different group which will reduce the number of heavyweight matches against India and among themselves. The current format ensures there are lot of relevant matches(not in terms of result but in terms of interest).