New Zealand have been the Indian men's cricket team's nemesis at ICC events in the last few years. The Kiwis have beaten India in their previous four knockout clashes across formats, including the heart-breaking defeat inflicted in the 2019 ODI World Cup semi-final. And hence, when the hosts enter the Wankhede Stadium for their last-four stage encounter in ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, against Kane Williamson's team on Wednesday, November 15, revenge will be on their minds. (Streaming | Match Blog | Scorecard | Preview | Full Coverage)
The Rohit Sharma-led Indian side have already taken a step in that direction by winning their league game against the Kiwis in Dharamsala. The home team had chased down the target of 274 with four wickets and 12 balls to spare. Mohammed Shami starred with a five-wicket haul and Virat Kohli anchored the run-chase with a typically responsible knock of 95 to guide India home.
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The hosts have been an all-conquering force in the league stage, ending up as the only team to win nine out of nine games and becoming the first-ever Indian team to notch up nine back-to-back victories in a single edition of the ODI World Cup. Another conquest on Wednesday with take that streak to double digits and put them in the summit clash on Sunday, November 19.
With that, here's a look at three key-player battles that can shape the outcome of the IND vs NZ semi-final in Mumbai:
Mohammed Shami Vs Rachin Ravindra
India's seam-bowling jewel Mohammed Shami has yet again proved how invaluable he is to the team at big-ticket ICC events. After sitting out the first four games of the 2023 ODI World Cup, Shami roared with a fifer upon return against the same Kiwi team that will play the semi-final. The red-hot 23-year-old southpaw Rachin Ravindra was one of Shami's scalps in that game, and given the kind of tournament Rachin is having, the India pacer will look to dismiss him again, albeit a bit earlier this time. Rachin has gone from strength to strength in the World Cup so far and would dearly want to score a big one in the knockout match too.
Virat Kohli Vs Mitchell Santner
Till not so long ago, India batting lynchpin Virat Kohli was struggling against left-arm spinners. He seems to have overcome that now and is having a phenomenal World Cup, aggregating 594 runs so far - the most by any batter - at an unreal average of 99. But in Mitchell Santner, New Zealand have a canny operator who is in also in good form. Santner picked up 16 wickets at a average of 24.87 in the group stage and has the discipine and craft to bamboozle any batter in the limited-overs format. Will Virat be able to play the percentages well against the slow left-armer, or will he succumb to Santner's guile? We will find out on Wednesday.
Rohit Sharma Vs Trent Boult
India skipper Rohit Sharma has been at his destructive best in the World Cup so far and has displayed his full range of strokes, revealing scant regard for the bowler and the pitch. He has taken the aerial route with gay abandon, as evidenced by the 24 sixes he has hit already in the tournament. But he might have to rethink his strategy against a class act like Trent Boult, who swings the new ball prodigiously and bowls tight lines. Hitting across the line may be fraught with danger against Boult, who doesn't just pick up early wickets but also keeps the scoring rate down in the powerplay usually. If India bat second in Mumbai, the match-up will become even more important as the new ball has moved a lot under lights there.
