India soak in 2008 nostalgia as Virat Kohli turns back the clock in Bengaluru

On the expected lines, India comprehensively defeated the Netherlands in the last league stage game in the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023 by 160 runs. This was the ninth consecutive win for the 'Men in Blue' in the competition. The icing on the cake for the Indian fans was Virat Kohli picking up a wicket in ODI cricket after nine years.

In front of a packed M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, on Sunday, India posted 410/4 after opting to bat first. In reply, the Netherlands were bowled out for 250. The result of the match was a foregone conclusion after the end of the first innings as chasing 411 against a red-hot bowling side like India was never going to be an easy task. However, not many would have predicted that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma would be in the wickets column and not the in-form Mohammed Shami.

Fans have demanded Kohli to be given the ball in the previous games as well. However, captain Rohit had only used him for three deliveries prior to the Netherlands match. The passionate Bengaluru crowd chanted: 'Kohli ko bowling do [Give Kohli the ball]' and Rohit gave them what they wanted.

In just his second over, Kohli broke a 39-run fourth-wicket partnership between Dutch captain Scott Edwards and Sybrand Engelbrecht as he dismissed the former, caught behind down the leg-side. KL Rahul moved swiftly to his left to take a neat catch. The crowd erupted in joy as Kohli and his teammates were thrilled to bits.

This dismissal took cricket fans on a nostalgia trip as they recalled how Kohli dismissed Kane Williamson in the semi-finals of the U-19 World Cup in 2008. The Delhi cricketer bowled a similar delivery as the one he bowled to Edwards but it missed Williamson's willow. However, the Kiwi batter lost his balance and was neatly stumped by Shreevats Goswami.

Incidentally, India's upcoming game is a semi-final against New Zealand in Mumbai on Wednesday, November 15. In the previous edition of the World Cup, these two teams locked horns in the semis in Manchester where New Zealand won by 18 runs.

Also Check: List of Virat Kohli international & IPL centuries