Legendary cricketer Jonty Rhodes added a touch of humor to South Africa’s dismal performance against India in the World Cup 2023, drawing a parallel between the defeat and his Royal Enfield motorcycle.
The much-anticipated clash between India and South Africa on November 5 at the Eden Gardens turned out to be a one-sided affair, with India securing their biggest victory in the history of the ODI World Cup. Despite South Africa’s impressive track record having scored 350-plus runs in previous matches, they could not withstand India’s dominance.
India, posting a formidable 326 on a challenging pitch, effortlessly bundled out South Africa for just 83 runs, 18 fewer than Virat Kohli’s individual score. Former Proteas stars like Dale Steyn expressed disappointment over the defeat but reminded fans that South Africa had already qualified for the semis with six wins in eight matches.
While cleaning his motorbike with his kids, Jonty Rhodes took a lighthearted jab at the Proteas, playfully linking the condition of his Royal Enfield to South Africa’s World Cup loss.
On the cricketing front, Virat Kohli celebrated his 35th birthday with a spectacular performance, marking his 49th ODI hundred and equaling Sachin Tendulkar’s world record. Shreyas Iyer’s crucial 77, along with cameos from Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, and Suryakumar Yadav, contributed to India’s formidable total.
India’s bowling prowess, exemplified by Ravindra Jadeja’s five-wicket haul, left South Africa struggling to find answers on the dry patch at the Eden Gardens. Despite the defeat, South Africa remains confident in their semifinal qualification.
Looking ahead, India aims to maintain their unbeaten record in the league stage against the Netherlands on November 12, while South Africa seeks a return to winning ways against Afghanistan on November 10 in their final league game.