• Source:JND
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India opener Shubman Gill top-scored for the side with a knock of 92-run in the dominating 302-run triumph over Sri Lanka in the ODI World Cup 2023 clash at Wankhede Stadium to book a semis berth.

Gill, who missed the opening two matches against Australia and Afghanistan due to dengue fever, revealed that he has not regained his strength and is still four kilos down in muscle mass.

"I am the kind of person who doesn’t get nervous. I look to tackle it my own way at the start. Not (attained) full fitness. I am four kilos down from dengue in terms of mass and muscle weight," Gill said in the post-match interaction.

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The 24-year-old batter missed out on his well-deserved maiden hundred but silenced his critics who were doubting him in the tournament.

Despite losing skipper Rohit Sharma (4) on the second ball of the match, Gill acted with maturity to build a strong partnership with Virat Kohli. The duo added an 189-run stand for the second wicket to dismiss any further challenge from Lankan bowlers.

Kohli also missed out on his hundred and departed at a score of 88.

The opening batter shared his mindset while batting in the middle with his senior partner.

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"Honestly the discussion was to play in a compact manner. The odd ball was seaming. Hit the balls in our areas. You couldn’t get into a shell. Looked to put the pressure on the bowlers. I felt in the previous matches I got starts expect the last one," Gill said.

Apart from Gill and Kohli, local boy Shreyas Iyer stole the show with his blistering 56-ball 82 studded with six sixes and three fours which guided India to 357/8 in 50 overs.

"Sometimes you play a good shot and it goes to the fielder. We thought about rotating the strike today. I honestly don’t think it was a 400 wicket. We batted well to get 350. Shreyas was the key today. He batted superbly," he added.

On the bowling performance of Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj, Gill said: "The way they were bowling we were anticipating wickets. Siraj is always fired up. They were sensational. Has made the job easier for us."

Shami's 5-18 and Siraj's 3-16 bundled out Sri Lanka for 55/10 in 19.4 overs as India registered their seventh consecutive win in the tournament.