- Wednesday, February 26, 2025
The hosts won the toss and elected to bat first in the game at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
By: Shubham Ghosh
INDIA on Wednesday (15) came up with a strong batting performance in the first semifinal of the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai with Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli hitting half centuries.
Gill, who opened the inning with captain Rohit Sharma (47), gave India a flying start after the hosts won the toss and elected to bat. The duo added 81 runs for the opening wicket when Sharma got out after playing a brisk knock. He then added 84 runs with Kohli before retiring hurt with cramps on the personal score of 79. Shreyas replaced him and added 73 runs with the former captain who was approaching his record 50th one-day international hundred.
This is the second time India and New Zealand and playing in this World Cup. Last month, they met in Dharamsala in a league match and India won the game by four wickets, thanks to power-punched performances from Mohammed Shami (5 for 44) and Virat Kohli (95).
South Africa and Australia will play the second semi-final at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday (16).
Here are the playing XI for the two sides in the semi-final:
India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicket-keeper), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj
New Zealand: David Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson (captain), Daryll Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Tom Latham (wicket-keeper), Mitchell Santner, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Southee and Trent Boult
