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India and New Zealand will lock horns in the semi-finals of the ODI World Cup 2023 on Wednesday, November 15 in Mumbai. While India won all nine of their league games and finished at the top of the table, New Zealand secured the fourth spot after winning five games and losing four.
The Men in Blue have sailed smoothly in the competition and there has been no glaring weakness for them so far. Most importantly, all the players have contributed during various stages of the tournament and that is something that gives a team a lot of confidence. Virat Kohli has shown his class as he is the highest run-getter in the league phase with 594 runs from nine games at an average of 99. Rohit Sharma has also scored 503 runs at an average of 55.89 and a strike rate of 121.50, and the flying starts he has given at the top of the order has shifted the pressure onto the opposition teams.
Jasprit Bumrah is the leading wicket-taker for India as he has picked up 17 wickets in nine games at 15.65. Mohammed Shami has been exceptional, picking up 16 wickets in five games at 9.56.
The Kiwis have found a new hero in Rachin Ravindra. The 23-year-old has taken no prisoners and shown that he belongs to the international stage. Rachin is the third-highest run-getter in the tournament, having scored 565 runs at 70.62. He has registered three hundreds and two fifties and looked equally adept at playing spin and pace. Daryl Mitchell has also been in sublime touch, scoring 418 runs at 59.71. He has formed some crucial partnerships alongside Rachin and they average 77.25 together in the tournament.
Mitchell Santner has been on song, picking up 16 wickets in nine games at an average of 24.88. He has bowled tactfully on some batting-friendly pitches and kept the batters in check. Trent Boult didn’t have a great start to the tournament but has shown signs of a resurgence in the latter half. He will have a crucial role to play with the new ball.
The Wankhede Stadium is a venue known for some high-scoring encounters. The team that wins the toss would have to post a total in excess of 300 to put the opposition under pressure.
