• India vs Sri Lanka: India storms into semifinals after a record-breaking victory in Mumbai

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    India vs Sri Lanka: India storms into semifinals after a record-breaking victory in Mumbai
    India has now advanced to the ODI World Cup semifinals for the fourth time in a row...

    Digital Desk: India's victory over Sri Lanka on Thursday at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium made them the first team to advance directly to the 2023 World Cup semifinals. With 14 points after 7 games, India leads the points table and is the only team in the competition without a loss.

    Following Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis, Shubman Gill (92), Virat Kohli (88), and Shreyas Iyer (82) led India's 357 for 8. Following that, Mohammed Shami spearheaded an astounding display of India's pace attack, destroying Sri Lanka for just 55 runs. In the ODI World Cup, Shami overtook Zaheer Khan and Javagal Srinath to become India's top wicket-taker. He also tied Mitchell Starc's record for the most five-wicket innings in a World Cup. While Zaheer and Srinath had finished with 44 wickets in World Cups, Shami needed just 14 matches to collect 45 wickets.

    Following the downfall of the Sri Lankan top order by Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah, Shami took just five overs to claim his second five-wicket haul of the tournament. India's victory in one-day internationals stands as their greatest to date at 302 runs.

    India has now advanced to the ODI World Cup semifinals for the fourth time in a row, following a catastrophic 2007 campaign that ended in the group stages due to shocking losses to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

    After winning the World Cup four years later at the Wankhede Stadium against Sri Lanka, India went on to top the group in 2015 after being undefeated in six games. They then overcame Bangladesh in the quarterfinals before suffering a heartbreaking loss to Australia in the semifinals. India finished atop the table in 2019 as well, although they were defeated by New Zealand in a thrilling semifinal match.

    India have been just as clinical in 2023. They went to Mumbai to play against Sri Lanka after winning against Australia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, New Zealand, and England. Following an outstanding batting display, India's pacers were ruthless and ruined Sri Lanka's pursuit in the opening two overs of their innings.