India maintained a perfect record in the league stage of the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Malaysia 2023, defeating the Netherlands by 160 runs in Bangalore. Despite the tight two-day turnaround before the semifinal against New Zealand, India posted an imposing total of 410/4. Notable contributions came from the top order, including Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli. However, the standout performance came from the partnership of Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul, both scoring centuries and making history with India’s top five registering fifty-plus scores in an ODI game for the first time.
The Indian bowlers, led by Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah, proved too challenging for Netherlands. Spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja also played crucial roles, securing vital breakthroughs. Despite Teja Nidamanuru’s fifty for Netherlands, India dominated the bowling attack, resulting in a convincing 160-run victory.
India’s undefeated run in the league stage instills confidence as they enter the semifinal against New Zealand. The team’s formidable performance in both batting and bowling positions them as strong contenders for the Junior World Cup title.
