ICC World Cup 2019 semi-final 1, India v New Zealand: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

The first semi-final of the ICC World Cup 2019 between India and New Zealand will be played on Tuesday, 9 July at Old Trafford, Manchester. India come into this game after having won 7 of their 9 games in the league stage while New Zealand have won 5 out of their 9. The clash between the two sides in the league stage was abandoned due to rain, but it won’t be the first time they go head to head in the tournament – they clashed in a warm-up tie where New Zealand beat India.

A blip against England aside, India have been truly dominant. Rohit Sharma, the tournament’s highest scorer with 647 runs, has hit a record 5 centuries thus far. His opening partner KL Rahul gained much-needed momentum by hitting his first World Cup century in India’s final league match, against Sri Lanka at Headingley. Virat Kohli, the captain, has had a string of fifties but hasn’t been able to convert any of them into hundreds.

However, the rest of the batsmen – Rishabh Pant, MS Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav – haven’t been very consistent in whatever opportunities they’ve got so far. Dhoni has scored 223 runs at 44.60 but his approach at the death, which is when he usually gets to bat, has come under question. Pant is still inexperienced at this level and neither Karthik nor Jadhav had many opportunities in the league stage. It’s the middle order that the New Zealand bowlers will try to get into early in the innings.

On the bowling front, Jasprit Bumrah has led the charge for India with 17 wickets at 19.52 followed by Mohammed Shami, whose 11 wickets have come at 13.78. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has recovered from injury but depending on the conditions, India may choose to play only two of the three pacers. The spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal was taken apart by England at Edgbaston, but barring that blip they have bowled well together, getting India crucial wickets in the middle overs.

For New Zealand, a lot depends on their two most experienced batsmen – Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor – who have also been the most consistent with the bat. Williamson has scored 481 runs and Taylor has 261, and together they have covered for the frailties of the openers. All-rounders Jimmy Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, and Mitchell Santner have contributed in some rearguard efforts while batting first but haven’t been able to replicate those efforts when put under pressure while chasing.

With ball, Trent Boult and Matt Henry have been good in the first 10 overs, using the conditions to their advantage to stop the run flow. Boult has 15 wickets and Henry 10, but the star with the ball for the Kiwis has been Lockie Ferguson, who has troubled the batsmen with his pace and accounted for 17. Neesham isn’t too far behind, with 11. Bowling is their stronger suit and they could rely on Ish Sodhi, the leg-spinner, who has had success in the past against India.

Head to head

India lead the head-to-head tally 55-45 and also won the most recent ODI series between the two sides 4-1, that too on New Zealand soil. At the World Cup, though, New Zealand lead India 4-3.

Key players

Rohit Sharma (India): He isn’t too far behind the all-time highest World Cup tally of 673 runs by Sachin Tendulkar in 2003 – the most runs in a single World Cup edition. If he does score a ton – a mind-boggling sixth in the tournament – the chances of India playing their fourth World Cup final will increase manifolds.

Kane Williamson (New Zealand): The captain has rescued his team on more than one occasion and is their highest scorer. With the ability to bat for long periods, he could be the anchor in the innings and the other batsmen could bat around him.

Likely XIs

India: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli (c), Rishabh Pant, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah.

New Zealand: Henry Nicholls, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson.

Prediction

India to beat New Zealand to advance to the World Cup final.