IND vs NZ Match Preview
The hosts have had a dream run in this World Cup. They are the only team which are yet to be defeated, winning all the 9 matches played so far. As a result, they finished at the top of the points table.
However, playing under the pressure of a knockout match will be a different ballgame altogether and India cannot let its guard down. One of the best parts of their campaign so far is that rather than relying on any particular individual, it is the team that has performed well as a whole, with various players stepping up at different stages.
The batting line-up is in brilliant form, with 4 of the top 5 batsmen getting at least one century. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill will look to score some quick runs during the PowerPlay, while Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav can give the team a strong finish.
The bowling has been equally brilliant with each of India's 5 full-time bowlers claiming at least 12 wickets. India’s pace attack is arguably the best in this tournament, while the spinners have kept a tight leash on the opposition batsmen during the middle overs.
New Zealand had a flying start, winning each of its first 4 matches. It was even the top team on the table for a brief period. The team then suffered a 4-match losing streak, causing some tense moments regarding the qualification. However, a 5-wicket win over Sri Lanka on Thursday ensured that the Black Caps made it to the 5th consecutive semifinals.
Rachin Ravindra has been the find of the season for New Zealand and has top-scored for them with 565 runs. While Devon Conway hasn’t been at his fluent best, he knows the conditions in Mumbai well and can be pretty destructive on his day.
The middle order consists of Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, and Glenn Phillips. Each of them can strike the ball well and can quickly take the game away from India. However, the form of Mark Chapman and Tom Latham is a bit of a concern.
In the bowling department, Trent Boult had a slow start to the series but seems to be peaking in form just at the right time. He picked up 3 wickets in the last match and played an important role in getting his team qualified. With Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson supporting playing a supporting role, the trio will look to make early inroads in India’s batting line-up.
Mitchell Santner is the pick of the bowlers with 16 wickets and will head the spin department.
Weather Report
The weather is likely to be clear with plenty of sunshine. There is no forecast of rain and the temperature will remain between 30-35 degrees Celsius.
Pitch Report
There is a huge difference between how the pitch performs in the first innings and the second. The average first-inning score at the Wankhede is 357, while that for the second inning is 188. It is quite obvious that the winner of the toss will look to bat first. The pitch tends to get slower in the second half and the ball does seam and swing for the first 20 overs.
The boundaries aren’t the biggest and the outfield is pretty quick too. We can therefore expect plenty of boundaries on this ground.
Notable stats
Big Hitting India
India scored 16 maximums in their last group-stage fixture against the Netherlands. With that, they now have 215 6s in 2023, which is the most by any team in a calendar year.
Team News
There are no updates regarding injuries from either side.
IND vs NZ Probable 11
IND Playing 11
- Rohit Sharma (C)
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- Suryakumar Yadav
- KL Rahul (Wk)
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Mohammed Shami
- Mohammed Siraj
- Jasprit Bumrah
NZ Playing 11
- Devon Conway
- Rachin Ravindra
- Kane Williamson (C)
- Tom Latham (Wk)
- Daryl Mitchell
- Glenn Phillips
- Mark Chapman
- Tim Southee
- Lockie Ferguson
- Trent Boult
- Mitchell Santner
Dream11 Prediction
Both India and New Zealand are two of the strongest teams in this competition and we can expect an engaging contest between them. India enters the playoffs on the back of a 9-match winning streak. They have already defeated New Zealand once and will feel confident that they can do so again.
On the other hand, New Zealand has an excellent record against India in ICC knockouts, winning all 3 such matches. However, looking at the overall performance, we feel that the home team has an advantage in this match.
Top Picks
Rachin Ravindra: Rachin Ravindra is the leading run-scorer for New Zealand in this tournament. He has 5 scores of 50+ runs, including 2 centuries.
Virat Kohli: Virat Kohli has an excellent record against New Zealand and has scored 1528 runs against them at an average of 56.59.
Ravindra Jadeja: One of India’s best all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja has picked up 16 wickets and scored 111 runs in this tournament.
IND vs NZ Dream11 Team 1
Keeper: D Conway
Batters: R Sharma, V Kohli (C), K Williamson, D Mitchell, S Gill
All-rounders: R Ravindra (VC), R Jadeja, M Santner
Bowlers: M Shami, J Bumrah
