India vs New Zealand Prediction: India won nine in nine

India and New Zealand are going head to head in the first semi-finals of the Cricket World Cup at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, India on 15 Nov 2023. India topped the points table with no defeats in the group stages while New Zealand won a three-team battle to reach here. New Zealand were beaten earlier in the tournament by India, will this be a repeat of the same or will they come up with something new? Who will win this game of cricket?

India enters this semi-final riding on a wave of consecutive victories this month against Sri Lanka, South Africa, and the Netherlands. Notably, in all three matches, India emerged victorious after batting first. During the round-robin stage of this tournament, when India faced New Zealand, the hosts secured a win while batting second.

India boasts three of the top eight run-scorers at the 2023 Cricket World Cup. The former captain, Virat Kohli, leads the run-scoring chart with 594 runs in nine innings. The current captain, Rohit Sharma, follows closely with 503 runs in nine innings, while batter Shreyas Iyer has accumulated 421 runs in nine innings. This collective dominance in batting is indeed noteworthy.

Furthermore, India possesses three of the top eight wicket-takers in the tournament. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah leads with 17 wickets in nine innings, followed by fellow pacer Mohammed Shami with 16 wickets in five innings. Spinner Ravindra Jadeja has also contributed significantly with 16 wickets in nine innings. Additionally, fast bowler Mohammed Siraj has claimed 12 wickets in nine innings.

Having won the Cricket World Cup title twice, although not since 2011, India remains unbeaten at home, showcasing stellar performances from several star players in excellent form. Considering these factors, India is effectively in a strong position for this match, while the opposition faces the challenge of bouncing back from a disappointing end to their round-robin campaign.

Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj

New Zealand can be appreciative of securing four wins relatively early in their World Cup campaign, despite subsequently experiencing four consecutive defeats. A late victory over Sri Lanka, however, propelled them into the semi-final stage of the tournament, setting up a clash against the outright title favorites.

Opener Rachin Ravindra and all-rounder Daryl Mitchell stand as the leading run-scorers for the Black Caps at the 2023 Cricket World Cup. Ravindra has amassed 565 runs in nine innings, including three centuries, while Mitchell has contributed 418 runs in eight innings. The return to fitness of captain Kane Williamson adds a significant boost to the XI.

In terms of wickets, spinner Mitchell Santner and fast bowler Trent Boult have been the top performers for New Zealand in this tournament, collectively sharing 29 wickets. Fast bowler Lockie Ferguson has also made a contribution with 10 wickets. However, the absence of the dynamic Matt Henry due to injury, who claimed 11 wickets before exiting the tournament, could pose a concern.

Despite never having won the Cricket World Cup and experiencing final losses in 2019 and 2015, New Zealand aims to reach a third successive final. Although their recent bilateral ODI series record against India is less than favorable, the dynamics of a major tournament offer an opportunity to rectify past shortcomings with just one significant win.

Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (c & wk), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult

This fixture is set to take place at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Three out of the last four ODIs held at this venue were clinched by the team batting first. Considering the trend, the captain winning the toss in this match might lean towards opting to field second.

New Zealand hasn't played an ODI at this venue in the last six years. India, on the other hand, had a recent outing in Mumbai less than two weeks ago, where they lost the toss but managed to defeat Sri Lanka by a staggering 302 runs.

In recent ODI encounters at the Wankhede Stadium, the last three first-innings totals have been 382, 357, and 291, making it one of the highest-scoring grounds in this tournament. Teams have been bowled out only twice in the last six ODI innings here.

The upcoming match will revisit the location of Glenn Maxwell's double-century for Australia last week. Opting for two specialist spinners might prove beneficial in these conditions. Mumbai is expected to be rain-free in the days leading up to the match and on the matchday itself.

New Zealand, having suffered four successive defeats, lost significant momentum. In contrast, India remains unbeaten in this tournament, enjoying the advantage of playing at home. The hosts are likely to emerge victorious in this encounter. The winner will advance to face either South Africa or Australia in the final. Expect a high scoring game at this fixture.