Match Preview – India vs New Zealand, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 2023, 1st Semi-Final

Big picture: high stakes

First, unstoppable force. India is hosting the World Cup of its wildest dreams and it has nothing to do with the fact that it is undefeated. This is just a byproduct of their pre-tournament planning. They left 2019 needing… more. So they began research, trying up to 50 different players over four years and 66 matches. Six months after the competition, they had identified who they wanted and were focused on honing their skills. In the 15 ODIs between March and October 2023, they chose all their XIs from a set of 24.

The chosen ones were given all the support they needed to realize their full potential, which is why Suryakumar Yadav finally seems to belong in ODI cricket. Off the field, India did even better. The success of this campaign – and it is already a success – was built in the doctors’ offices, gyms and workouts that allowed Jasprit Bumrah and KL Rahul And Shreyas Iyer must come back from injury without losing an ounce of his abilities, fearing his body will break again if he pushes it too hard.

Rohit Sharma and his predecessor Virat Kohli have often pointed to a record of sustained excellence whenever they have faced questions about the lack of ICC trophies since 2013. Whether the drought ends in a week or not, the gains made by this team – the freedom with which they hit, the discipline with which they played, the confidence they have in themselves and their method, the joy they spread – already seem historic.

Now the building object that changes shape. New Zealand are becoming what they need to win. Rachin Ravindra has started scoring mountains of runs in the top order, so the first game they invested in during the build-up to the World Cup has to warm up the bench. They have transformed Glenn Phillips into something close to an all-rounder, the man has doubled the number of overs he has bowled in his entire ODI career during this competition. They dealt with injuries to key personnel. They were not derailed by the narrow defeat against Australia or the one after scoring 401 against Pakistan. They rear up. They do what they can. And then they are at peace with whatever happens. This is why they are so good in high-pressure matches like the one on July 14, 2019.

Expect a cautious start. Each team strives not to make the first mistake, trying not so much to beat the opposition as to outlast them. New Zealand is a master of this art; you just have to stay in the game long enough until there is an opening to go through.

Form guide

India: WWWWW (last five ODIs completed, most recent first)
New Zealand:WLLLL

In the spotlight: Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult

Jasprit Bumrah is the man who makes India unbeatable. Without him, they went out with a whimper in the T20 World Cup last year. With him, they beat the team that had sent them out to Australia despite a massive batting malfunction. Nearly 80% of his deliveries (175 off 228) in the first ten overs were runs. He always comes back to the middle because if he can then pick up a wicket, a new batter will have to face the prospect of scoring those crucial, quick runs against, in all likelihood, Bumrah himself because he really comes alive. to death with his slower balls and yorkers.

New Zealand’s best chance of victory will be bowling under the lights. The new ball moved spectacularly in Mumbai after sunset, and early wickets are the surest way to cripple an opposition, even if it features so many safeties. Trent Boult hasn’t always had the conditions in his favor in this World Cup but if the fates align to give him the opportunity to target the stumps and pads of Rohit and Kohli and Shreyas and Rahul, he will certainly take it . And even if he has to play in the heat, he will be stimulated by an acute feeling of unfinished business.

play2:29

Team News

Neither India nor New Zealand will look to reshuffle their packs. Lockie Ferguson suffered from an Achilles injury throughout the tournament, Black Caps coach Gary Stead said. Sky Sport Reviews, but he also added that the fast bowler should be good to play the semi-final. On the eve of the match, Williamson confirmed that all players in his squad were fit and available for selection.

India have been playing the same XI since their fifth league match, against New Zealand in Dharamsala.

India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (captain), 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 KL Rahul (week), 6 Suryakumar Yadav, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Mohammed Shami, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Mohammed Siraj

New Zealand (probable): 1 Devon Conway, 2 Rachin Ravindra, 3 Kane Williamson (captain), 4 Daryl Mitchell, 5 Tom Latham (week), 6 Glenn Phillips, 7 Mark Chapman, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Lockie Ferguson, 11Trent Boult

Location and conditions

It was fun batting in the first innings at the Wankhede Stadium and then fun again after 20 overs of chasing. The intervening period is where the quicks took their toll. The weather is favorable and even if it is not, there is a day in reserve for the semi-final.

Statistics and anecdotes

• India currently have the most wickets (85), best economy rate (4.5), best average (19.6) and best strike rate (26.2) among all teams in the World Cup.

• Tim Southee vs Virat Kohli could be a fun battle. He produced 205 runs with a strike rate of 101 but also six dismissals.

• New Zealand has been effective at scoring points quickly at this World Cup, with the highest points rate (6.5) among all teams in the tournament.

• Among the opening pairs with at least 1,000 runs in ODIs, Rohit and Shubman Gill have the second highest average (74.8) behind only David Warner and Travis Head (80.1).

Quotes

“The underdog problem, from what you write, I don’t think it’s changed too much, but it’s good, you know, and India has been exceptional.”
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is comfortable with the perception that India is the favorite

“I’ve played a lot of cricket here: these four or five games are not going to say much about what Wankhede is…I certainly believe the toss is not the best solution. [decisive] postman.”
Indian captain Rohit Sharma insists the semi-final will not be decided solely by which team strikes first.