From Virat Kohli's Masterclass To 'Spirit Of Cricket' Debate, Five Takeaways From Cricket World Cup 2023 League Stage

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 league stage concluded with India's commanding 160-run victory over the Netherlands. One of the noteworthy aspects of the World Cup so far has been the Indian cricket team's dominance. Here, we explore five key observations from the league stage.

1. Virat Kohli's masterclass

Virat Kohli, at the age of 35, might be playing in his final ODI World Cup and the Indian batter seems determined to leave a lasting impression. The former India captain concluded the group stage as the leading run-scorer with 594 runs in nine matches, boasting an impressive average of 99. He scored seven 50-plus scores in nine matches.

Kohli began the campaign by steering India to victories against Australia and Afghanistan, solidifying his reputation as the 'Chase-Master' with scores of 85 and an unbeaten 55. Demonstrating his batting prowess, he exhibited his class against Bangladesh and New Zealand, hitting a 103-not out and 95, respectively.

The batting stalwart has consistently shouldered the responsibility of setting imposing totals for India when batting first. Moreover, he also played pivotal roles as an anchor batter on multiple occasions.

Kohli conjured a composed innings on a slow, two-paced Eden Gardens pitch against South Africa. Under pressure, Kohli showcased his temperament and experience, ultimately unleashing a flurry of shots at the end for an unbeaten century.

Beyond his batting prowess, Kohli displayed his all-round skills by contributing with the ball, claiming a wicket against the Dutch team and entertaining the fans at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

2. Australia's resilience

The Australian cricket team got off to a poor start with rare back-to-back defeats in the World Cup. Not many