India ease past Bangladesh in ICC World Cup 2023

India defeated Bangladesh by seven wickets in Pune on Thursday to register their fourth consecutive win during the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023.

Virat Kohli scored a ton as India maintained their perfect record in the World Cup with a clinical seven-wicket victory against Bangladesh.

Bangladesh were hoping to upset the India team, who went into the match with three straight wins, but in the absence of skipper Shakib Al Hasan, who sat out with a left quad injury, the task became harder.

Opting to bat, Bangladesh didn’t make good use of the 93-run opening stand between Litton Das and Tanzid Hasan and posted 256-8 on a batting pitch at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium.

It was a disciplined bowling display by India, bearing in mind that they were one bowler short from early in the match after Hardik Pandya twisted his ankle in his first over.

Skipper Rohit Sharma led India's quick reply, by scoring 48 runs in 40 balls, and Virat Kohli ended with an unbeaten 103, hitting a six to notch up his hundred and secure India's win with 51 balls to spare.

India are at the second position on the points table with New Zealand ahead of them only because of a superior net run-rate.

The Cricket World Cup will be played in the round-robin format with all teams playing against each other for a total of 45 league matches.

The top four teams will qualify for the semi-finals, which will be held in Mumbai on November 15 and in Kolkata on November 16. The semi-finals and the final will have reserve days.

The winners of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 will earn US$4 million. The runners-up will receive US$2 million, while the losing semi-finalists will earn $800,000 each from the total prize pot of US$10 million.

The winners of each match in the group stage will receive US$40,000 and the six teams that do not qualify for the semi-finals will receive a payment of US$100,000.