World Cup 2023: Iyer, Rahul slam tons as India post 410/4 against Netherlands in record-breaking batting performance

It has been raining milestones in Bengaluru so far on Sunday with India posting a massive 410/4 on the board after electing to bat in their ICC World Cup 2023 match against Netherlands.

World Cup 2023: News | Schedule | Results | Points table

The Indian batters feasted on the Dutch attack that isn’t used to facing the Men in Blue in their own backyard, with Scott Edwards’ men hammered all over the M Chinnaswamy Stadium as a result.

Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul led the way with the blazing centuries, the latter bringing up his milestone in just 62 deliveries to bring up the fastest World Cup hundred by an Indian and the ninth fastest in the history of the tournament. Iyer brought up his maiden World Cup hundred, bringing up the milestone in 84 balls, while Rahul celebrated his second century at the showpiece event and the seventh overall in the format.

Additionally, each member of the Indian top-five managed to go past the fifty-mark in what was a remarkable display of batsmanship that will send a warning to other teams ahead of the knockouts. Rohit Sharma led the way early in the innings with a 54-ball 61 and stitched a 100-run opening stand with Shubman Gill (51), while No 3 batter Virat Kohli was cleaned up by Roelof van der Merwe shortly after bringing up his 71st ODI half-century, departing for 51.

This is only the third time in the history of the ODI format that all five members of the top five have scored fifty or more in a single innings. Australia had achieved this twice, against India on both occasions, in 2013 and 2020 respectively.

LIVE: India vs Netherlands, ICC World Cup 2023 match in Bengaluru

And once Iyer brought up his half-century, India became the first team in World Cup history with all four members of the top four going past fifty. The Men in Blue would later improve that record with Rahul joining the fifty club on Sunday.

India’s total is not only their highest of the campaign so far, going past their score of 357/8 against Sri Lanka, but is also the second-highest of this edition — going past New Zealand’s 401/6 against Pakistan at the same venue. South Africa’s 428/5 against Sri Lanka in Delhi in the first week of the tournament remains the highest team total in the history of the ICC’s showpiece event.

Additionally, Rohit added another feather to his cap earlier in the day after hitting two sixes during his 54-ball 61, breaking AB de Villiers’ record for most sixes hit in a calendar year. Rohit now has 60 sixes in 2023 and counting, compared to de Villiers’ 58 in 2015. Rohit also broke Eoin Morgan’s record for most sixes hit by a captain in a single edition of an ICC World Cup. Rohit now has 24 compared to the Irish-born former England captain’s 22 in 2019.

It was a forgettable day for the Dutchmen, who had been officially eliminated from semi-final contention after their 160-run defeat against England earlier this week. Netherlands, who had pulled off a shock 38-run victory over South Africa in Dharamsala and would later add two more points to their collection with an 87-run victory against Bangladesh in Kolkata.

Logan van Beek was the worst hit of the Dutch bowlers, going for 107 runs in his full quota of 10 overs without collecting a wicket. Fellow seamer Paul van Meekeren, who had broken the opening partnership by dismissing Gill, went for 90 runs. While Bas de Leede (2/82) was the only bowler with multiple wickets, dismissing Rohit and Rahul, left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 1/53 from 10 overs, which included the wicket that denied Kohli a historic 50th ODI ton at his adopted home ground.

They would have hoped to stun the dominant Indians to end their campaign on a high. But for that to happen, they would have to break the record for the highest successful chase in World Cup history that was set by Pakistan against Sri Lanka last month. And against an Indian attack that has skittled England, Sri Lanka and South Africa out for 129, 55 and 83 respectively in each of their last three outings.

Brief scores:

India 410/4 in 50 overs (Shreyas Iyer 128*, KL Rahul 102, Rohit Sharma 61; Roelof van der Merwe 1/53) vs Netherlands.