India made history on Sunday, achieving an unprecedented feat as the first team to emerge undefeated in the round-robin format, securing victories in all nine games. Their remarkable triumph over the Netherlands, winning by a substantial 160 runs, solidified their dominance.
In the past, Sri Lanka (1996) and Australia (2003) had come close with eight wins, but India surpassed that record. Following a convincing triumph in the Asia Cup, India continued their stellar performance in the World Cup, initiating the campaign with a resounding win over Australia.
The next challenge awaits India in the semifinals against New Zealand in Pune on Wednesday. Meanwhile, New Zealand faced a shaky road to semifinal qualification, overcoming threats from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Despite losing four consecutive games after an unbeaten start, they secured their spot by defeating Sri Lanka in the final league match, joining India, South Africa, and Australia in the knockout stage.
Notably, only two teams have clinched the Cricket World Cup while staying undefeated throughout the tournament – the West Indies in 1975 and 1979, and Australia in 2003 and 2007. India now aims to etch their name in this elite list as they advance to the crucial stages of the competition.
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