New Zealand Playing 11 vs India – ICC World Cup 2023, Semi-Final 1

New Zealand goes face to face with India in the first semi-final of the ICC World Cup 2023 in Mumbai. The Kiwis won their last match against Sri Lanka to qualify for the semis. They have had an up-and-down tournament through the league stage.

Cricket experts believe that the Kiwis lack momentum heading into this big semi-final despite winning their last game against Sri Lanka in emphatic fashion. NZ won their first four games and then lost their next four games before picking up a crucial win against the Lankans.

The Kiwis lost to Australia by a close margin of five runs and then also lost against Pakistan despite scoring over 400 runs with the bat. Against South Africa, they suffered a 190-run loss as they were bundled out for 167 chasing a mammoth 358.

They have looked at two different sides when they have won and lost games respectively. The advantage they have over India is the fact that they have defeated the Men in Blue in the previous semi-final and the bowlers are well aware of the weakness of the Indian batters.

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The match will be played in Mumbai, a track that has assisted the pacers in the first 10 overs as India proved in the match against Sri Lanka. For The Kiwis to win the game they need to put early pressure on the Indian batters inside the first powerplay.

Talking about the predicted playing XI, the only change that is possible in this match is James Neesham being replaced by Mark Cahampam in this game as the latter did not have a good game against Sri Lanka.

New Zealand Playing 11 vs India – ICC World Cup 2023, Semi-Final 1

Devon Conway

Conway will open the batting for New Zealand. So far in this World Cup, he has scored 359 runs at an average of 44.88 with one hundred and no fifties.

Rachin Ravindra

Ravindra will open the batting with Conway. He has been a revelation for New Zealand. He is the third-highest run-getter at the moment with 565 runs in nine matches at an average of 70.62.

Kane Williamson (C)

Williamson will slot in at three. He has been troubled by a knee injury and did not play all the games. The New Zealand skipper has played three games scoring 187 runs at an average of 93.50.

Daryl Mitchell

Mitchell will bat at four. He has almost cemented that position. The right-hander has scored 418 runs in nine matches at an average of 59.71 including a century against India.

Tom Latham (WK)

Tom Latham will bat at five and also keep. The New Zealand keeper-batsman has scored just 155 runs in nine matches at an average of 31.00 in nine matches. Latham led the Kiwis to victories in the first four games on the trot.

Glenn Phillips

Phillips can bat at six. He scored 17 off 10 balls against Sri Lanka but has played a few lovely cameos. He has taken some crucial wickets in the tournament and is a brilliant fielder to boot. He is also the second-spinner in the side.

James Neesham

Neesham will bat at seven. He has played just three games and scored 58 runs at a strike rate of 130. He almost won the match for the Kiwis against the Aussies. Neesham was a part of the XI that played the semi-final semi-final against India.

Mitchell Santner

Santner will slot in at eight. He has taken 16 wickets from nine games at an average of 24.88 the most by a Kiwi bowler in the tournament so far. He has also played a few handy knocks down the order.

Tim Southee

Southee will bat at nine. He has also not played many games due to his thumb injury. The pacer has taken just four wickets from three matches. He has taken 38 World Cup wickets in his career so far.

Trent Boult

Boult will be the second pacer in the XI. He has taken 13 wickets from nine games at an average of 32.15 so far. Overall, he has taken 52 World Cup wickets.

Lockie Ferguson

NZ has backed Ferguson over Ish Sodhi and should back him in the semi-final as well against India. He has taken 10 wickets from six games at an average of 23.60. He is one short of 100 ODI wickets.

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