IND vs NZ: India playing XI vs New Zealand, 1st Semi-final, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 – Predicted

India will face New Zealand in the first semi-final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 on Wednesday in Mumbai.

Team India ended the group stage of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 without losing a game, and they were the only team to do so. They beat all the opposition and finished at the top. But now the pressure of the knockout is on, and India will be tested against New Zealand in the first semi-finals of the tournament.

That match will take place on Wednesday at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. India lost the 2019 World Cup semi-finals against the same opposition, and they want to get this monkey off their backs by beating Kiwis, but it will not be that easy. Here we will talk about the predicted playing XI for India in the first semi-finals.

IND vs NZ: India’s Predicted playing XI vs New Zealand

1. Rohit Sharma (C) :

Rohit Sharma will be the biggest factor for India in the semis. If somehow the captain can stay on the crease for around 12–15 overs, India will be off to a dream start. The way he has been performing is exceptional, and he is certainly leading from the front. Rohit has scored 503 runs at an average and strike rate of 55.88 and 121.49, and he has already hit 24 sixes.

2. Shubman Gill :

Slowly but steadily, Shubman Gill is finding his groove and getting good starts. He has scored 270 runs at a strike rate of 104.58, including three half-centuries, but he will look to get a hundred, which will be pretty special. He is giving India a good start and taking the pressure from other batters, and that is what is required from him on Wednesday.

3. Virat Kohli :

This will be a huge test for Virat Kohli. He has rarely failed in this tournament and will look to continue and take the ship forward against New Zealand. In the group match, he scored 95 against them, but he will look to get even a bigger score now. Virat has scored 594 runs at an average of 99 with two hundreds and five half-centuries.

4. Shreyas Iyer :

After some struggles earlier, it seems Shreyas Iyer has found his mojo back. In the last three games, he has scored one hundred and two half-centuries. Overall, Iyer has scored 421 runs at an average and strike rate of 70.16 and 106.58, and he will be eyeing the opportunity to continue his form and play another impactful innings to take his team to victory.

5. KL Rahul (wk) :

KL Rahul has been the backbone of the middle-order. He is a complete batter who can adjust according to the situation, play an anchor role, and then accelerate accordingly. He is coming off a 62-ball hundred and will be feeling high on confidence. Rahul has an important role in the team to avoid any collapse and take the team to a better position.

6. Suryakumar Yadav :

Suryakumar Yadav hasn’t gotten a full chance to bat in this tournament so far. He has a good innings of 49 runs against England, but he has yet to show his full potential. We all know how damaging he can be in the final overs, and India will hope that he can deliver something special in the coming game to take India to the finals.

7. Ravindra Jadeja :

A batting average of 55.50 and a bowling average of 18.25 suggest how incredible Ravindra Jadeja has performed for India in both departments. The all-rounder is a key player in the absence of Hardik Pandya because he gives a good balance to the team. Jadeja has taken 16 wickets at an economy rate of 3.97 and scored 111 runs at the end so far..

8. Mohammed Shami :

Mohamemd Shami went wicketless in the last game against Netherlands, but he has been superb so far. India have gone with five specialist bowlers, and he has been an important bowler for India whenever he has come to bowl. Shami has taken 16 wickets at an average of 9.58 and took a five-wicket haul against Kiwi last time.

9. Jasprit Bumrah :

Jasprit Bumrah will be India’s spearhead, and a lot will depend on the good start and finish he can give to India with the ball. He has bowled pretty well in the powerplay so far in this tournament, and that’s what will be expected from him. Bumrah has taken 17 wickets at an incredible economy rate of 3.65, and India will hope for one more good performance from him on Wednesday.

10. Kuldeep Yadav :

Kuldeep Yadav’s role is very important in this bowling attack. If the seamers provide a good start, he is expected to carry on and put pressure on them, but if they fail to do so, then he is also the one who takes wickets in the middle. New Zealand targeted him the last time, but can they do it again under pressure? Kuldeep has taken 14 wickets at an economy rate of 4.15.

11. Mohammed Siraj :

Mohammed Siraj can be expensive sometimes, but if he gets into rythym, he can surely overshadow Bumrah and Shami. He has been India’s best bowler in the last year or so, and that’s why he is currently the No. 1 ranked ODI pacer. India want him to deliver a good spell to give India an upper-hand. Siraj has taken 12 wickets so far.

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