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India Face 'This Challenge' For The First Time In World Cup 2023

image-loledf3eLungi Ngidi bowled the first over of the day (AP Photo)

In a surprising turn of events in the ICC World Cup 2023, the Indian cricket team's opening batters encountered a right-arm pacer in the first over for the first time in the tournament. This break from the left-arm bowler trend came in Sunday's match against South Africa at Eden Gardens.

While many teams believed that Indian openers struggled against left-arm pacers in the early stages of an innings, the myth was shattered as the undefeated Indian team faced and successfully tackled left-arm bowlers throughout the tournament.

The previous seven matches saw a consistent pattern with left-arm fast bowlers taking the lead in the opening over against India. Notably, Mitchell Starc of Australia, Fazalhaq Farooqi of Afghanistan, Shaheen Afridi from Pakistan, Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman, Trent Boult of New Zealand, David Willey from England, and Sri Lanka's Dilshan Madushanka all followed this tactic.

However, South Africa's Lungi Ngidi introduced a change by opening with a right-arm fast bowler, marking a strategic shift against the Indian batting lineup. The undefeated Indian team had maintained a flawless record in the tournament, securing their spot as the first team to qualify for the semi-finals.

This unexpected twist adds an intriguing element to India's World Cup journey, keeping fans on the edge of their seats as the team continues to strive for glory.

Thus far, the ongoing match between India and the Proteas has been a rollercoaster of a ride for both sides. The Men in Blue openers got the team to a flyer, but the spinners brought the South African back to the hut; however, the stand between Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer has set the stage to post a total of around 350 runs.