Background
After 45 group-stage games, it’s a repeat of the Semifinal 1 from the 2019 World Cup. India qualified in just their initial 7 games, whereas New Zealand depended on other games’ results even after their last group stage match, but isn’t it the same as we saw in 2019?
Semi-Final 1 of the 2023 World Cup will be played at Wankhede on the 16th of November. It’s the same ground where India lifted the trophy 12 years ago.
Team Preview
India - India entered the tournament as clear favourites and is playing that way. Till now, they are unbeaten in 9 group stage games. India never looked out of control and won each of their game with complete ease. New Zealand was the only team to present some challenge and India are facing them only in the semifinals.
Indian batting has looked completely unmatched . Their 2 big men have scored 500 runs each and the last match against the Netherlands was the only one where none of them posted an 85+ score. Shreyas Iyer has found his touch and played knocks of 75+ in the last 3 matches with a 128* in the last match.
KLR performed in the first match (97*) and stitched a partnership with Virat to tackle India after 2/3 in a chase of 200. He also scored a 100 against the Netherlands. Suryakumar Yadav scored a valuable 49 against England to help India post a respectable score of 229. Shubman Gill is also in form now and is one of the top 5 batsmen to score 50 against the Netherlands.
Coming to India’s bowling, it is the best bowling unit India ever had in a World Cup campaign. Each of the 5 bowlers has taken 10+ wickets and 3 of them are in the top 8 wicket takers. With a filter of at least 15 overs, Indian bowlers Bumrah and Jadeja are the top 2 economical bowlers with Kuldeep and Shami at the 4th and 7th spot respectively.
New Zealand - The Kiwis started the tournament with 4 out of 4 wins. England got demolished in the tournament opener whereas New Zealand defeated some easy teams in the next 3 matches. Their next 3 games were against the 3 semi-finalists of WC 2023 and all of them defeated the men in black. The Kiwis were quite unlucky in the game against Pakistan but comfortably defeated Sri Lanka to strengthen their chances for the top 4.
Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell are the best batsmen for New Zealand in this tournament. They both are in the top 10 run-getters and would be the key for New Zealand against India. Opener Conway scored 152* in the tournament opener but found it difficult to perform further with 0 50+ scores. Captain Kane is back after injury and has looked in great touch in the 3 games he played.
Mitchell Santner is the best bowler with 16 wickets in 9 games. Moreover, his economical bowling (4.81) is an advantage for New Zealand. Boult has clinched 13 wickets and he along with other pacers would look to repeat the 2019 football scores when bowling against the Indian top order.
Match Prediction
Controversial, but all good things have to come to an end and India will lose! New Zealand will get up and stun the cricketing world. Latham, Williamson, Boult and Santner will lead them to the final in a dominate fashion.
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