Ross Taylor Plays Mind Games As He Reminds India Of 2019 World Cup Semi Final

New Zealand will face India again in the semi-finals of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. The Kiwis were beaten by the Men In Blue in the league-stage encounter at Dharamsala. India is still unbeaten in this tournament and New Zealand’s best hope will be the confidence from four years ago when they defeated India in the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup.

Former New Zealand batter, Ross Taylor did not miss an opportunity to play mind games and reminded India of the outcome in 2019 just two days ahead of the highly anticipated clash. Ross Taylor suggested on Monday that India might be feeling a bit nervous about facing the Blackcaps in the World Cup semi-finals, drawing comparisons to both teams’ campaigns in the 2019 World Cup.

India, similar to 2019, has entered the semifinals as the table-toppers. On the other hand, New Zealand, despite starting the current tournament with four victories in a row, concluded the league stage in fourth place with five wins in nine games. The Blackcaps finished fourth in the points table in the 2019 World Cup too.

“As New Zealand prepares to take on India in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 semi-finals, it is impossible not to look back at the parallels with 2019,” Taylor, who was a part of that semi-final in Manchester, told ICC.

Ross Taylor drew parallels with the 2019 World Cup where India went to the semi-finals as table toppers and New Zealand ensured that their NRR was better than Pakistan and they finished fourth. India however, lost the semi-final battle in the rain-affected clash.

“Four years ago, India went into the semi-final as the form side in the tournament, while we were more focused on ensuring our net run rate would keep Pakistan out of reach for the final spot in the top four. This time around, India are even bigger favourites, at home and have played so well during the group stage. But when we have nothing to lose, New Zealand teams can be dangerous. If there is a team that India will be nervous facing, it will be this New Zealand side,” said one of New Zealand’s greatest players.

However, New Zealand’s task will not going to be a walk in the park given the current form of the Indian team.

“We’re up against it, of course, but that was also the case in 2019. That was a two-day one-day game! (due to rain). It was a strange situation for me, I was not out overnight. That is nerve-wracking enough in Test cricket, let alone a one-dayer and a World Cup semi-final,” he recalled.

Ross Taylor Feels India Still Relies Heavily On Top-Order Batters

The historic Wankhede Stadium will host the highly anticipated clash which is usually a high-scoring venue. Ross Taylor said that if the Blackcaps can strike early, it will put a huge amount of pressure on the Indian middle order which was duly exposed in the 2019 clash. He stated that the toss will play an important role and the first ten overs in both innings will be crucial.

“The toss is important but if New Zealand can start well with bat and ball, that will give them a lot of confidence to stay in the fight. The first ten overs in both innings are crucial. When India are batting, you want to get them two or three down in the first ten overs to put them under pressure. They rely heavily on an excellent top three.”

“There is Shubman Gill, the number one player in the world, and then Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. We need to try to make inroads and put the middle order under pressure. Then when India are bowling, it is similar. You want to score runs but it is also vital we keep wickets in hand against weapons like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami.”

When they get on a roll, they can be a lethal force, and the spinners can really pile on the pressure. If you keep wickets in hand, that is when it becomes a bit easier, rather than having to chase the game,” said Taylor.

The 23-year-old Rachin Ravindra has been New Zealand’s stand-out batter, scoring 565 runs in his first-ever World Cup campaign which includes three hundreds. He holds the key for the Kiwis, said Taylor.

“It will be a big day for Rachin Ravindra. When you have a guy who is named after a combination of Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, it is special to play India in India in a World Cup semi-final. We needed someone to score heavily in the tournament. I am not sure many people would have expected it to be Rachin but I have been really impressed, not only by the runs he has scored but also the way he has gone about it, his tempo and his calmness,” said Taylor about the youngster.

“He is just going out there and batting like he did as a little kid. He has not put any pressure on himself and I hope he continues to do that. He has a big part to play in the semi-final and in the future for New Zealand. It is funny to think that if Michael Bracewell had made it to the World Cup, Rachin probably would not have made it. Luck has probably played a part, but we all need that,” he added.

New Zealand and India will battle it out at the historic Wankhede Stadium and the winner will enter the finals of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. It will be interesting to see if India will avenge their defeat of the 2019 semi-finals or if New Zealand again stuns the Men In Blue and enter their third consecutive ODI World Cup final.