The stage is set for a blockbuster World Cup semi-final showdown as India take on New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday.
This is a repeat of the 2019 World Cup semi-final which New Zealand dramatically won by 18 runs over two days in Manchester. India will be eager to avenge that loss on home soil this time.
India have been in sublime form, winning all nine group games to finish top of the table. Their batting has revolved around the genius of Virat Kohli while captain Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Subhman Gill have dazzled around him. The bowling too has fired with Mohammed Shami claiming 16 wickets.
Meanwhile, New Zealand have peaked at the right time after losing their way mid-tournament. Consecutive wins over Sri Lanka and Pakistan sealed their semi-final spot. Devon Conway struck a wonderful hundred against the Lankans to underline his return to form.
This mouth-watering semi-final promises to be an enthralling battle between two well-matched heavyweights. India will back their in-form batting lineup and potent bowling attack to book a place in the final. New Zealand can never be underestimated in big games with the experience of captain Kane Williamson and veteran paceman Tim Southee proving invaluable performance.
Hopefully another thriller awaits at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. Both teams match up excellently for an epic semi-final showdown. India will be determined to continue their quest to end their World Cup drought on home soil. But you also should count on New Zealand at your peril on the big stage.
Bet on India at odds 1.35 at Mostbet>> (Use Mostbet promo code MOSTBANG for an exclusive offer.)
Bet on New Zealand at odds 3.35 at 1xBet>> (Use 1xBet promo code BANGVIP for an exclusive offer.)
India Overview
It’s been a truly dominant World Cup campaign so far from India as they topped the Round-robin stage with nine highly commanding victories. Their ruthless performances have made them worthy favorites to clinch that elusive ICC trophy.
India’s batting has revolved around the genius of Virat Kohli who has struck three sublime centuries. Captain Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul have lit up the tournament with their dazzling strokeplay too. The bowling unit has been world-class with Mohammed Shami, Maohammad Siraz and Jasprit Bumrah.
The Men in Blue have simply had all bases covered with both bat and ball. Their fielding has been electric and they have capitalized on crucial moments to seize control of games.
India do have a concern around the fitness of key pacer Mohammad Siraz. JAsprit Bumrah though has stepped up ably leading the pace attack alongside Shami. Spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja have kept things tight in the middle overs.
Captain Rohit Sharma has admitted his surprise at how smoothly India have dominated throughout their group games. But India knows the knockout stages present a different challenge altogether.
The hosts will expect a mighty challenge from the Blackcaps in familiar conditions. But with Kohli in the form of his life and vital momentum on their side, India will be confident of securing a place in the final.
New Zealand Overview
It’s been an up and down tournament for New Zealand but they have showcased their big match temperament by peaking at exactly the right time to reach the semi-finals again. Convincing five-wicket wins over Sri Lanka sealed their top-four spot.
The Blackcaps made a perfect start winning their first four games including a stunning nine-wicket win over defending champions England. But losses to India, Australia, South Africa and Pakistan dented their momentum.
Skipper Kane Williamson missed those defeats due to injury. But his majestic 95* against Pakistan on return stabilized the New Zealand ship in terms of net run rate when it mattered most. His availability and leadership for the knockouts is a massive boost.
In his absence, veteran Tom Latham led the side admirably while Devon Conway returned to form with a knock of 45 runs against Sri Lanka. The seam bowling wears a potent look with Southee and Trent Boult complemented by the extra pace of Lockie Ferguson.
However, New Zealand’s main concern lies with their spin bowling where Mitchell Santner has lacked penetration while Rachin Ravindra has been expensive. The dry Wankhede surface will test New Zealand’s slow bowlers against India’s star-studded batting lineup.
But in knockout games, New Zealand always save their best for last as they showed in the 2019 and 2021 World Cups. Their group standings may not do justice to the quality in their ranks.
Underdogs New Zealand will be ready to disrupt India’s momentum in their own backyard yet again. Their experience of conquering India in knockout games before makes them extremely dangerous.
India vs. New Zealand Starting XI
Expected Starting XI for India:
- Rohit Sharma (C)
- Shubhman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- KL Rahul (WK)
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Mohammad Shami
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Mohammad Siraj
Expected Starting XI for New Zealand:
- Kane Williamson (C)
- Devon Conway
- Rachin Ravindra
- Dary Mitchell
- Tom Latham (WK)
- Glen Phillips
- Mark Chapman
- Mitchell Santner
- Tim Southee
- Trent Boult
- Ish Sodhi
With Mohammad Siraj injured, Experienced Bumrah is expected to be the light of India’s pace attack alongside the experienced Mohammed Shami. New Zealand should field the same XI that defeated Sri Lanka. Skipper Kane Williamson returned to form with the bat and provided stability. Tim Southee and Trent Boult will be their key weapons with the new ball.
The key battles will be between Suryakumar Yadav and the New Zealand spinners who he has dominated previously in T20Is. India’s bowlers must negate the threat of Devon Conway and Williamson early on. Both teams appear evenly matched on paper making for an exciting contest. But India’s formidable squad depth hands them an edge.
See the confirmed starting lineups below an hour before the match starts.
India vs. New Zealand Head-to-Head
India and New Zealand share a storied rivalry in One Day International cricket and at the ICC World Cup in particular. The two nations have collided 10 times previously at cricket’s showpiece event, with New Zealand narrowly leading the head-to-head 5-4 with one no result.
Several of those World Cup meetings have been all-time classics, including New Zealand’s tense 18-run semifinal victory over India in 2019. Chasing 240 on a tricky pitch at Old Trafford, India fell just short despite a breathtaking knock from Ravindra Jadeja. The match spanned across two days due to rain interruptions, only heightening the drama.
Prior to that heartbreak, India held fond World Cup memories against the Black Caps. They knocked New Zealand out of both the 1987 and 2003 World Cups, overcoming the Kiwis by 9 wickets and 7 wickets respectively. New Zealand got their revenge back at the 1999 and 2019 World Cup with a 5-wicket and 18 runs win over the Men in blue.
In this tournament, India has turned the table by winning their match over New Zealand by four wickets. This victory showcased India’s ability to handle high-pressure situations against quality opposition.
Beyond World Cup contests, these two cricket powerhouses have clashed across 117 ODI matches all-time. India holds a 59-50 advantage overall, with seven no results and one famous tie. Their games frequently go down to the wire, with the slim margins emphasizing how closely matched the sides are.
When comparing totals in ODIs, India’s highest score against the Black Caps is a formidable 392-4. Meanwhile, New Zealand has posted an ODI best of 3493 against their Asian rivals. In the World Cup specifically, India’s highest is 274 compared to New Zealand’s 273.
Considering India’s exceptional recent tournament record and home ground advantage, they likely enter as favorites in this mouth-watering semifinal. But given New Zealand’s track record for delivering big World Cup performances, India cannot afford to underestimate their wily opponents.
Fans hope this latest chapter adds another thrilling episode to this storied cricket rivalry. With a World Cup final spot on the line, expect both sides to leave nothing in the tank as they vie to advance. Their competitive pedigree suggests this could be another World Cup classic in the making.
Weather & Pitch Report
The iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai will provide the backdrop for the first semi-final between India and New Zealand. The weather forecast for matchday looks excellent for cricket.
Clear skies have been predicted in Mumbai on Wednesday with temperatures likely around the 26-34 degrees Celcius mark. The humidity won’t be very high and will reduce to around 46% in the evening.
Importantly no rain is expected during match hours. The conditions will be ideal for both teams with cooler weather later bringing respite.
The Wankhede pitch historically tends to favor batting with the ball coming nicely onto the bat allowing strokeplay. True bounce enables high scoring with teams often posting 250+ totals here.
However, the nature of the surface for semi-finals is hard to predict. A fresh pitch could see some early movement with the new ball for both pace and spin bowlers. Batting may become difficult in the second half as spinners derive grip.
Dew could play a role in the outcome with the wet outfield hampering bowlers in the evening. Considering it’s a knockout, expect a par first innings total around 260-270 rather than the 300+ scores seen in group games.
With a strong batting lineup, the toss winner may prefer chasing by taking advantage of the dew. But defending a total is still possible if bowlers use variations cleverly.
We can expect a thrilling game between bat and ball. The most adaptable team has the edge to book a place in the final.
India vs New Zealand Prediction
This fascinating battle between two well-matched heavyweights is extremely tough to predict. India’s sparkling form and home advantage arguably hands them the edge. But New Zealand’s big-match prowess makes them serious contenders.
India’s extraordinarily consistent batting lineup led by the peerless Virat Kohli appears almost unstoppable currently. Their bowling too has all bases covered with the depth to overcome any opponent.
However, New Zealand possesses plenty of match-winners too like Conway, Williamson and Southee. If their batting fires in unison, they can post 300+ scores even on challenging pitches.
New Zealand’s balance, variety in bowling and knockout experience gives them every chance of upsetting India’s rhythm. India’s middle order remains relatively untested and New Zealand could expose them.
But India have shown maturity and skill to handle pressure situations this World Cup like good champions do. Rohit Sharma’s captaincy has been aggressive and proactive which sets the tone.
Considering how clinical India have been in all departments, they deserve to be favorites to reach another World Cup final. But the Blackcaps have made a habit of rising to the big occasion when least expected.
This promises to be an epic akin to their recent World Cup thriller in Manchester. Expect another cliffhanger with the result going down to the wire. If India can hold their nerve, they should prevail by a whisker and continue their quest for title glory.
India vs New Zealand Betting Tips
With batting friendly conditions, consider betting on over 270+ match runs despite it being a knockout game. A safer option is 260+ runs. Virat Kohli is in sublime form making him the prime pick to be top match run-scorer. Kane Williamson and Rohit Sharma also have consistently good records.
The in-form Mohammed Shami could be top bowler for India. Tim Southee usually steps up in big games for the Kiwis. Betting on Kohli or Williamson to score 50+ runs has good potential on this surface.
Given New Zealand’s knockout pedigree, don’t hesitate to back them at good odds despite India’s form. With dew likely, consider betting on the chasing team irrespective of who bats first.
Based on the venue history, 270 could be a competitive 1st innings score. You can bet on match totals accordingly. For a bold punt, consider betting on India or New Zealand to successfully chase 280+ or 300+ aided by the dew factor.
With so many world-class players on show, markets around batsman runs, bowler wickets and match totals should all give good returns for punters.
Bet on 1 Innings, Virat Kohli to score 50 runs at Mostbet at odds 2.00>>
If you want to check out our other Cricket World Cup match predictions, you can find them on our site. In the meantime, you can check out how to bet on the Cricket World Cup.
