India Wouldn't Want To Face New Zealand - Steve Harmison's Huge Claim

India in all likelihood will face New Zealand in the first semi-final of the ICC World Cup 2023 in Mumbai on November 15. The Men in Blue are on an eight-match winning streak having won all their league games so far. They are also likely to win their last game against the Netherlands.

Semi-final is one hurdle that the Indian team has failed to cross in the last two World Cups. They lost the 2015 and 2019 World Cup semi-finals to Australia and New Zealand to bow out of the tournament. Once again they will be taking on New Zealand in the first semi-final next week.

New Zealand has been India’s nemesis in ICC tournaments. They won against the Men in Blue in every ICC tournament in the last 20 years. This Dharamsala game was the first time in 20 years that India defeated the Kiwis in an ICC event. They previously defeated India in the 2019 semi-final followed by the 2021 T20 World Cup game and the 2021 WTC final.

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A quality side like New Zealand, you can never write them off – Steve Harmison

Steve Harmison, the former England pacer in a chat with ESPN Cricinfo said that India would not want to face New Zealand in the semi-final given their recent history against the Kiwis.

“A quality side like New Zealand, you can never write them off. Out of the three teams that are in the semi-finals with India, I’ve got a funny feeling that they are the one team that India wouldn’t want to play because they have character. They are all coming back to fitness,” Harmison told ESPNCricinfo.

“I wouldn’t say they are all in prime form. But on the big stage, India and New Zealand have been here before. All the pressure is now on India. Indian cricketers are used to playing under pressure so I don’t think that will harm them too much. If India had one side they didn’t want to play in the semi-final, it would be New Zealand,” Harmison added.

India lost the 2019 World Cup semi-final by 21 runs the last time when the two teams met in a World Cup semi-final.

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