In an electrifying partnership with the unstoppable Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer orchestrated a breathtaking innings, propelling India to a formidable 397-4 against New Zealand in the ICC World Cup 2023 semi-final at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. Coach Rahul Dravid’s faith in Iyer as the linchpin of the middle order proved well-placed as the talented batter delivered a stellar performance.
Ahead of the highly anticipated clash, Iyer had already been earmarked as the backbone of India’s middle order. The semi-final showdown lived up to its billing, with Iyer overcoming his previous struggles against short balls in the tournament. Playing the perfect supporting role to Kohli, who etched his name in history with a record-breaking 50th ODI century, Iyer showcased his mettle on the grand stage.
In a match where records tumbled at the hands of Kohli, Iyer’s century, achieved in a mere 67 balls, set a new benchmark. Surpassing Australia’s Adam Gilchrist, Iyer claimed the title of the fastest century in a World Cup knockout game. Gilchrist’s iconic century in the 2007 World Cup final had come off 72 balls.
Not only did Iyer join the elite club of Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid by registering consecutive centuries in a World Cup for India, but he also outshone Sourav Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh by hitting eight sixes in a single innings. This remarkable feat surpassed Ganguly and Yuvraj, who had each struck seven sixes in their memorable World Cup knocks. Iyer’s tally of sixes also included a splendid display against Sri Lanka earlier in the ODI World Cup 2023.
