New Zealand, one of the teams (the other team is Australia), who faced maximum number of semi-final matches among all the world cup playing teams, reached 8th time at the semi-final, though, out of seven time, they lost semi-final 6 times, the team won only semi-final in the last world cup, and became the runners-up. Also, they reached to semi-final consecutive 4th time, the second most consecutive semi-finalist, after England having 5 time, in first five world cup (from 1975 to 1992) and joint with Australia from 1996 to 2007 and Pakistan from 1979 to 1992.
On the other hand, India reached semi-final 7th time, the second most time, also 3rd consecutive world cup semi-finalist. The win-loss ration for India in semi-final is equal, 3 victory and 3 defeat.
India’s encounter against New Zealand in world cup is 8 time, out of them, India won 3 time and lost 4 time, and the only no result match, which was almost a month back in the same world cup, but both team never met each other in any knockout match in the ODI world cup, in fact the only knockout encounter between the team in ICC tournament was in final match of ICC knockout tournament 2000, which India lost by 4 wickets.
Manchester, the venue for the first semi-final, though in the second half of the english summer, team prefer to choose bat first after winning the toss, but weather shows the overcast tomorrow, mostly cloudy and chance of rain, though very less, so in the situation team needs to count the overcast weather, which can help seamers, as well DLS calculation in case of rain and so shortened match, but still because of the pressure of knockout and dry pitch, team mostly might prefer to bat first after winning the toss.
India tried D. Karthik in place of K. Jadhav, but D. Karthik didn’t put such impression, though he didn’t get such chance as well, but due to India’s bowling in last some games, as in the game against England, spinners gave so many runs, in the game against Bangladesh, the team looked to have lack of bowling variety and in the last game, B. Kumar had a very bad day, in short, in the absence of V. Shankar, India has not much option of either include K. Jadhav in the eleven or V. Kohli needs to be ready to bowl. Though, K. Williamson, R. Taylor and T. Latham are very good player to play against spin, but still to look at the overall New Zealand team, India might go with their both wrist spinner, but in case of overcast situation, India might include third pacer, so, it looks, team might be declared at the time of toss only.
New Zealand has the problem with the opener, they tried H. Nicholls in place of C. Munro, but the problem couldn’t seem to be resolved for them. Though it might be bit risky, but they can try T. Blundell, as if he will get chance then, the match will be his debut. M. Guptill is out of form through the tournament except their first match against Sri Lanka, but New Zealand might not take risk to ask him to seat on bench, the middle order might be as usual, followed by three all rounder with mostly three pacers. New Zealand would not like to take wrist spinner against India in place of any seamer.
India 11: KL Rahul, RG Sharma, V. Kohli, R. Pant, MS Dhoni, K. Jadhav, H. Pandya, K. Yadav / B. Kumar, M. Shami, Y. Chahal, J. Bumrah.
New Zealand 11: M. Guptill, H. Nicholls / T. Blundell, K. Williamson, R. Taylor, T. Latham, J. Neesham, C. De Grandhomme, M. Santner, L. Ferguson, M. Henry / T. Southee, T. Boult.
