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Rohit And Gill Join An 'Elusive List' With Blazing WC Partnership Vs New Zealand 

image-lozlg47kShubman Gill in action against NZ at the 2023 World Cup semi-finals (AP)

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill blazed through New Zealand’s new-ball attack to form a 71-run stand at the top. Turning up for their side in the first semi-final of the 2023 World Cup in Mumbai, captain Sharma was the first to dictate terms with his sizzling intent inside the opening power-play.

Rohit’s batting onslaught ensured that Team India raced past the 100-run mark in just 12.2 overs, allowing number three Virat Kohli to anchor the innings alongside Gill. Regardless of their early bombardment, the two dashing openers fell just short of an all-time Indian record at a World Cup semi-final, falling just behind 2003’s Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar’s effort as well as 2015’s opening masterclass from Shikhar Dhawan and Sharma himself.

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill fall just short of Indian record

Shubman Gill and captain Rohit Sharma shared 71 runs from just 8.2 overs at the top against New Zealand, where the latter bludgeoned a thunderous 29-ball 47 before becoming India’s first casualty of the innings. Through their opening blitz, Sharma and Gill listed India’s third highest ever first-wicket partnership in any ICC Men’s ODI World Cup semi-final.

The two cricketers fell just behind Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag’s 74-run opening stand against Kenya at the 2003 World Cup, and also behind Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma himself from their 76-run start at the top against Australia in the 2015 World Cup semis.

After Sharma and Shubman Gill’s latest batting masterclass at the Wankhede Stadium, here is a look at an updated list of India’s highest opening partnerships in a World Cup semi-final:

Highest Indian Opening Partnership in World Cup Semi-finals

Opening Batters
Runs
World Cup Edition
Opponents
Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan76 2015Australia
Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar742003Kenya
Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill712023New Zealand

Following Rohit Sharma’s dead-eyed tonking, his partner Shubman Gill and number three Virat Kohli stitched a fifty-plus partnership of their own to guide India towards a strong position, before Gill walked off the field due to cramps.