Match: IND vs NZ, ICC ODI World Cup 2023.
Date: Wednesday, 15th November 2023.
Time: 2:00 PM IST, 2:30 PM BD.
Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

India has been the standout team in this edition of the ODI World Cup, remaining undefeated in all nine matches and topping the points table. They now face New Zealand in the first semi-final.

New Zealand, while not as dominant, has had a respectable performance with five wins in nine matches, securing the second spot on the points table. It’s worth noting that India has already defeated New Zealand in this tournament.

India: India continues to showcase an outstanding performance in the ODI World Cup, securing their ninth consecutive victory in the recent match against the Netherlands. Winning the toss, they chose to bat, and their batting order delivered exceptional results, accumulating a total of 410 runs in 50 overs. Notably, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul both scored centuries, with Iyer’s unbeaten 128 and Rahul’s dynamic 102. Rohit Sharma also contributed significantly with 61 runs.

India’s bowling unit maintained its excellence, defending the formidable target by dismissing the Netherlands for 250 runs in 47.5 overs. Utilizing nine bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah emerged as the most successful with two wickets. Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja also made valuable contributions, each securing two wickets. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma claimed one wicket each. Despite some bowlers not taking wickets, the overall team effort showcased India’s dominance in both batting and bowling aspects.

New Zealand: New Zealand experienced a turnaround in their recent match against Sri Lanka, securing a convincing five-wicket victory. Opting to field after winning the toss, New Zealand’s bowling unit displayed an outstanding performance by dismissing Sri Lanka for a total of 171 runs in 46.4 overs. Trent Boult emerged as the leading wicket-taker, claiming three wickets in ten overs for 37 runs. Mitchell Santner also made a significant contribution with two wickets in ten overs, conceding just 22 runs. Lockie Ferguson added two wickets in ten overs, and Tim Southee and Glenn Phillips secured one wicket each.

In the batting department, New Zealand showcased a collective effort, successfully chasing down the target of 172 runs in just 23.2 overs. Devon Conway led the charge as the highest run-scorer with 45 runs from 42 balls, featuring nine boundaries. Daryl Mitchell played a crucial role, contributing 43 runs from 31 balls, including five boundaries and two sixes. Rachin Ravindra made a valuable contribution with 42 runs, and Glenn Phillips remained unbeaten with 17 runs, securing the team’s victory.

India: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (Wicket-Keeper), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj.

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (Captain), Tom Latham (Wicket-Keeper), Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult.

India enters the semi-final as the favorite to win this match, and several factors contribute to their favored status:

• Undefeated Record: India has maintained an unbeaten record throughout the tournament, winning all nine matches played so far.
• Superb Performance: The overall performance of the Indian team has been exceptional in the preceding matches, showcasing their dominance in the competition.
• Outstanding Batting Order: India boasts an outstanding and consistent batting lineup that has delivered impactful performances in crucial situations.
• Effective Bowling Unit: The Indian bowling unit has been effective, contributing to the team’s success in limiting opposition and defending targets.

While New Zealand has also shown commendable performances, India’s exceptional form and track record in the tournament makes them the favored team in this encounter.

India enters this match as a well-balanced team with a strong batting order and bowling unit, increasing their winning chances. Here’s the predicted equation for today’s cricket match:

India: 55% chances to win
New Zealand: 45% chances to win

This assessment considers India’s overall strength and performance in the tournament, giving them a higher probability of emerging victorious in this encounter.

The outcome of the toss is anticipated to hold significance in determining the results of every match in the ODI Cricket World Cup 2023. According to the toss prediction, the team winning the toss is likely to choose to bat first. This decision is influenced by the expectation that the pitch’s behavior will remain consistent throughout both innings.

The 1st Semi-Final match of the ODI Cricket World Cup 2023 is scheduled to take place at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Insights from past matches held at this venue suggest that the pitch favors batsmen. However, the track tends to be slower than other pitches, providing assistance to spinners. There is an expectation that the surface will further slow down, making it challenging for batsmen in this match. Achieving a score surpassing 300 runs is anticipated to be a formidable task for the chasing team.

The weather forecast for Mumbai indicates unfavorable conditions for the upcoming cricket match. There is a possibility of rain, raising concerns about the completion of the match. Given the prevalent rainy weather in India and its impact on previous matches, there is apprehension that this fixture might also be affected by rain. In such cases, the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method may come into play to determine the match outcome.

• Stadium: Wankhede Stadium
• Location: Mumbai, India
• Inaugurated: 1974
• Seating Capacity: 33,000
• Ends: Garware Pavilion End, Tata End
• Time Zone: UTC +05:30
• Home to: Mumbai Cricket Team, Mumbai Indians (IPL)
• Floodlights: Available
• Groundskeeper: Sudhir Naik