Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Mohsin Shaikh
The long-anticipated Cricket World Cup 2023 semifinals kick off with a high-stakes clash between India and New Zealand at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. As both teams fight for a coveted spot in the tournament final, here's a comprehensive look at the key aspects of the match
Rohit Sharma's squad has maintained an impeccable record in the tournament, emerging victorious in all nine league matches and progressing to the semi-finals without encountering a single defeat. In contrast, New Zealand secured victories in only five out of their nine matches, experiencing a loss in one of the four encounters against India
India has won the toss and will to set a target by batting first. The decision aligns with the trend in this World Cup, where teams batting first have enjoyed a powerplay advantage, scoring an aggregate of 209 compared to 168 for teams batting second
The historic Wankhede Stadium, with a seating capacity of 32,000, becomes the battleground for this crucial semifinal. Having hosted key matches in the World Cup, the stadium's legacy adds to the intensity of the clash. India won the World Cup finals back in 2011 in the same stadium
The Wankhede pitch, known for its flat nature, smaller boundaries, and brisk outfield, creates an environment conducive to batsmen. With a notable high score of 438/4, expect an enthralling contest between bat and ball
Accuweather predicts a daytime temperature of 32 degrees Celsius with 86% cloud cover, diminishing to 16 degrees at night with 18% cloud cover. While rain isn't expected, seamers will aim to capitalise on potential overcast conditions
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj
Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson (c), Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Mark Chapman, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult
The historical clash between India and New Zealand spans 119 ODI matches. India holds a statistical advantage with 59 victories, while New Zealand, with 50 wins, looks to upset the balance and create a pivotal moment in World Cup history
India enters the match with the intent to erase the haunting memories of the 2019 defeat against the Kiwis at the same stage. Meanwhile, New Zealand eyes a third successive World Cup final appearance, adding a layer of intensity to this semifinal showdown