Netherlands will play their last ICC World Cup 2023 match against India in Bengaluru. Scott Edwards, Vikramjit Singh and Max O’Dowd heaped massive praise on Virat Kohli before the contest.

“Virat Kohli is a big wicket and we will have to get him out early. He performs well while chasing totals and has been doing it for years,” Scott Edwards told Star Sports.

“The King Virat Kohli is arguably the greatest of all time. He is someone cricketers look upto,” Max O’Dowd said.

“Who doesn’t love Virat Kohli? Everyone loves Virat Kohli. He is a poetry in motion,” Vikramjit Singh said.

Kohli has scored over 500 runs, with the help of 2 hundreds and 4 fifties. He recently equalled Sachin Tendulkar’s world record of most ODI centuries. He is one ton away from going past the Master Blaster.

India are undefeated in the tournament, with eight wins from as many games.

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In a delightful segment on Star Sports, Virat Kohli took part in a rapid-fire round with comedian-actor Sumukhi Suresh. The exchange unfolded as follows:

Sumukhi: The next game has everything to do with peace, okay? Excitement, and you have only five seconds to answer questions. Hit the buzzer when you want to answer. Five seconds, answer, and the buzzer will sound. Are you ready?

Virat: Yeah, okay.

• Three things you can eat that start with the letter ‘A’?
  • Virat’s Response: Apple.
• Three current fashion trends you love?
  • Virat’s Response: Baggy pants, baggy t-shirts, and bucket hats.
• Three wild animals you wish were pet animals?
  • Virat’s Response: None.
• People you call the most?
  • Virat’s Response: Anushka, my mum, and my coach.
• Name three of your go-to favorite songs.
  • Virat’s Response: Channa Mereya, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, and Deva Deva.
• Words your best friends would use to describe you?
  • Virat’s Response: Naughty.
• Three things you consider to be your guilty pleasures?
  • Virat’s Response: Dark chocolate.
• Three things that do not rhyme with the word ‘bat’?
  • Virat’s Response: Book, crook, hook.
• Three must-haves in your wardrobe?
  • Virat’s Response: T-shirts, jeans, and underwear.
• Three things that make you smile?
  • Virat’s Response: Jokes.

In the midst of the light-hearted conversation, Virat couldn’t help but question Sumukhi, “What are you doing? Why are you putting that pressure on me?” There is much more pressure to answer in five seconds.

Virat Kohli’s performance in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023 has been nothing short of spectacular. India face Netherlands in their final group-stage encounter on Sunday and Virat Kohli will be aiming to surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s record of most ODI hundreds.

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Star batsman Virat Kohli, in the midst of a spectacular Cricket World Cup 2023 has amassed 543 runs in eight matches, including two centuries. Notably, Kohli recently achieved a milestone by equaling Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most centuries in One-Day Internationals, securing his 49th century on his 35th birthday.

The cricketing world, including Tendulkar, showered tributes on Kohli through social media, expressing admiration for his achievement and anticipating further records in the days to come.

As India gears up for its last group stage match against the Netherlands, a match considered a dead rubber, Kohli returned to Bengaluru with the Indian team. Upon arrival, Kohli, accompanied by his wife Anushka Sharma, was warmly welcomed at the team hotel by officials.

Virat and Anushka are expecting their second child. News of her pregnancy spread like wildfire after a clip showed her cradling her baby bump as she walked with the former India captain. For the night out, the actress wore a short flared dress to shield her baby bump. Their first kid Vamika was born on January 11, 2021.

Known for his on-field tenacity and resilience, Kohli, despite occasional controversies, remains one of the most beloved figures in cricket. Fan interactions, including pitch invasions for selfies and feet-touching gestures, are common occurrences at Indian venues.

Beyond his on-field prowess, Kohli holds the distinction of being India’s highest-paid athlete, earning $33.9 million primarily from lucrative brand endorsements, according to Sportico’s 2022 list.

Kohli’s cricket journey has seen highs and lows, with an extended lean patch since 2021. However, his resilience came to the fore in the 2022 T20 World Cup when he broke the century drought after 1,020 days. Since then, Kohli has continued his stellar form, reaffirming his status as one of cricket’s premier players.

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India, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, has earned high praise from former cricketer Aakash Chopra, who declared them as playing like legitimate champions in the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. As the Men in Blue gear up to face the Netherlands at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium on November 12, Chopra expressed his admiration for the team’s outstanding performance across formats.

In a video on his YouTube channel, Chopra commended India for their dominance in the rankings, holding the top spot in ODIs, Tests, and T20Is.

“The Indian team holds the top spot in all rankings—ODIs, Tests, and T20Is. Shubman Gill is the leading ODI batter, Suryakumar Yadav is the top T20I batter, Mohammed Siraj is the number 1 ODI bowler, and Ravindra Jadeja is the top Test all-rounder—all belong to us,” Chopra said.

“We’re keeping our distance from the competition. We’re not just showcasing top-notch performance, we hold the actual top rank. Our cricket team is champion-level, not just in one format but in all three. If there were an awards night today, our team would sweep all the awards,” he added.

Having triumphed in all eight matches in the ongoing World Cup, India stands tall as the top-ranked team, maintaining an unbeaten record. Their recent 243-run victory over South Africa solidified their position as the leading side entering the semi-finals.

With victories against Australia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh, South Africa, and Sri Lanka, India is set to face the Netherlands on November 12, continuing their quest for World Cup glory.

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India’s pace duo, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj are intensifying their batting skills in preparation for the upcoming World Cup 2023 semi-final on November 15. The bowlers engaged in extended batting sessions under India’s batting coach, Vikram Rathour.

Star Sports reported from Bengaluru on Wednesday, November 9, that Bumrah and Siraj dedicated significant time to refine their batting techniques ahead of the crucial semi-final fixture. India has had trouble in past knockout matches, mainly due to batting struggles, and they want to fix that.

In previous ICC tournaments, India faced early exits because of weak performances in the top order. Now, even though captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been doing well, the team is making sure the lower-order batsmen are ready to step up if needed.

India’s dominance has been evident throughout the World Cup 2023, winning all eight matches in the tournament. With an undefeated record in the group stage, they are set to face the Netherlands on November 12 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Rohit Sharma didn’t train on Wednesday but spent time talking to batters Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill. Gill, now the world No. 1 in ODIs, focused on playing aggressively in the nets, practicing hitting boundaries and sixes.

As India prepares for the semi-final, their focus on improving batting skills shows their dedication to addressing weaknesses and putting up a strong performance to gain World Cup glory.

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Netherlands managed just 179 while chasing 340 runs against England in the ICC World Cup 2023.

They have lost seven games, with just one win coming against South Africa at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium.

Scott Edwards-led side will face undefeated and table toppers India in the final contest in Bengaluru. Scott is looking forward to the game.

He spoke to Nasser Hussain after the game against Jos Buttler’s team in Pune.

“It is a massive game for us and the players are looking forward to it,” he said.

Scott was disappointed with the performances of batters and bowlers against England.

“We didn’t bat and bowl properly and paid the price.”

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Star batsman Virat Kohli recently achieved a significant milestone by equalling Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI centuries. Kohli, expressing his admiration for Tendulkar, described him as the epitome of perfection in batting. In a heartfelt interview, Kohli shared his emotions.

“It’s overwhelming for me right now. Matching my hero’s record is truly special. He is the epitome of perfection in batting,” he said.

Reflecting on the unexpected accomplishment, Kohli expressed his gratitude.

“I idolized him growing up, began playing for India while watching him in action. To match his ODI record is surreal. I never imagined reaching this point in my wildest dreams. I feel blessed and grateful. As I mentioned after the match, he will always be my number one, no matter what unfolds,” he added.

Acknowledging the flood of congratulatory messages on social media, Tendulkar himself extended his wishes to Kohli. In a message on X (formerly Twitter), Tendulkar wrote, “Well played Virat. I hope you go from 49 to 50 and break my record in the next few days. Congratulations.”

Looking ahead, Kohli expressed his aspirations to continue his remarkable form in the ongoing World Cup. With 543 runs from eight innings, Kohli aims to contribute significantly in crucial matches.

“I’m delighted that my journey has brought me this far, allowing me to contribute to winning games for my country, much like he did. I aspire to continue in the same vein because doing so increases our chances of winning. I would love to replicate this in the upcoming tournament, particularly in crucial matches like the semis and final. Fingers crossed, hopefully, I can achieve that,” he concluded.

As India prepares to face the Netherlands in their final round-robin fixture of the World Cup 2023, all eyes are on Virat Kohli’s pursuit of breaking Tendulkar’s record in the upcoming matches, with the team gearing up for the semi-finals.

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Netherlands off-spinner Aryan Dutt has expressed his dream of dismissing Indian cricket star Virat Kohli, considering it the ultimate gift in the 2023 World Cup. As India and the Netherlands gear up to face each other on November 12 in Bengaluru, Dutt, despite the challenging task of bowling in the powerplay, has showcased an impressive performance with eight wickets in six games at an economy rate below five runs per over.

In a recent interview on October 31, Dutt shared his admiration for Kohli and drew a parallel to the role played by Deepak Patel for New Zealand in the 1992 World Cup.

“I value every wicket, but getting Kohli out would be the best gift in this World Cup,” he said.

“I don’t compare myself to Deepak Patel, but I’m enjoying bowling on Indian pitches. They have a unique feel, which benefits spinners relying on variations,” he added.

“I trust my abilities and don’t stress about the batters I’m up against. My aim is to consistently hit the right lengths and use my speed and turn to outsmart the batsmen,” he further added.

Beyond his economical bowling, Aryan Dutt has also contributed valuable runs in the lower order, aiding Netherlands in victories against South Africa and Bangladesh. Despite emerging from the qualifiers, the Dutch side has impressed with their fighting spirit, holding an outside chance of reaching the semi-finals.

Currently, eighth, with two wins in six games, the Netherlands must secure victories in their remaining three matches and hope for favourable results to advance in the tournament.

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Sanju Samson is not a part of the ICC World Cup 2023 squad. However, he posted a photo from the Men in Blue’s practice session at the Greenfield International Stadium.

The picture shows the Indian players practicing with a big poster of Samson in the background.

The stadium is in the Trivandrum city of Kerala. Sanju Samson is the most famous cricketer of Kerala.

The Men in Blue were supposed to clash against the Netherlands in the warm-up game, but it was called off due to rain.

Sharing the picture on Instagram, Samson wrote: “With Team India @ Gods own country !!”

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The warm-up game between India and the Netherlands has been called off due to persistent rain. Earlier, the contest with England was also abandoned due to regular showers.

The weather conditions have impacted almost all the matches ahead of the ICC World Cup 2023. Meanwhile, India recently defeated Australia in the three-match ODI series.

Earlier, the Men in Blue thumped Sri Lanka in the final of the Asia Cup 2023.

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