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‘Medal replaced by Belt’- Fans react to India’s poor show in the field against New Zealand in ODI World Cup 2023

Indian fans are disappointed with the team's poor fielding performance against New Zealand in the ODI World Cup 2023, particularly after the team dropped multiple catches in a crucial match.

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Sarah Andrew
New Update
Fielding

India who were looking the best in the field so far in the World Cup with the highest catching efficiency had a poor show in the field against New Zealand at Dharamsala on Sunday. It looked like the Indian fielders today turned out with buttery fingers and soapy hands. The match started with a stunning catch by Shreyas Iyer to depart Devon Conway but things spiralled after Ravindra Jadeja who is termed to be the best fielder in the world dropped a sitter of Rachin Ravindra at the point then went out to make 75 off 87 balls.

The first drop by Jadeja followed by KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah dropping Daryll Mitchell twice which wasn’t expected by this Indian team who was a top show in the field till this match. To rub salt on the Indian team’s wounds Daryll Mitchell went on to score a big hundred in the all-important clash between the table toppers.

 After early jitters, it was the Rachin-Mitchell show

India got the early breakthroughs and the Indian pace trio of Shami Siraj and Bumraj kept the Kiwi openers on tenterhooks and once both the openers were gone they were lingering at 19-2 at one point. But after that some poor fielding and drop catches gave the impetus, the Kiwis needed and after it was all Rachin-Mitchell show where they played some sensational shots and attacked the middle overs.

Both the batsmen targeted India’s premier left-arm leg spinner Kuldeep Yadav and set the tone by hitting him for two sixes in his second over. The two batsmen scored half-centuries each and their partnership crossed the 100-run mark. India had to use up all of Ravindra Jadeja's overs, as the spinner bowled 10 overs in a row and finished with figures of 0 for 48.

 Pandya’s injury has shaken the team's combination

India did not have a sixth bowling option, as they had dropped Shardul Thakur to include Mohammed Shami and Suryakumar Yadav in the team in place of the injured Hardik Pandya which left India with only 5 bowling options in today’s match. The partnership between the two batsmen eventually went past 150 runs when Jasprit Bumrah dropped Glenn Mitchell at the boundary and the ball went for four runs. India finally got the breakthrough in the 34th over when Shami dismissed Ravindra for 75 runs off 87 balls.

Indian team’s lapses in fielding came as a surprise to their fans and the fans were also quick in giving it back by some hilarious responses. Here are some few of them:

Fielding medal ODI World Cup 2023 Best Fielder India vs New Zealand 2023