Cricket World Cup hosts India won all nine of their matches in the group stage, having seen off the Netherlands by 160 runs last time out, and their reward is a clash with New Zealand in the tournament's first semi-final.
New Zealand secured fourth spot in the standings and a place in the semi-finals thanks to their five-wicket win over Sri Lanka last Thursday, but were beaten by India last month in the first of four successive defeats in the group stage, and will be underdogs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday.
- Rachin Ravindra top New Zealand runscorer
- Virat Kohli to score a half century
- Jasprit Bumrah top India wickettaker
Ravindra To Star For The Black Caps
Before looking at the dangers India pose, it is worth mentioning New Zealand's strengths and one player in particular has shone at the 2023 World Cup.
Top-order batsman Rachin Ravindra is having an excellent tournament with only Virat Kohli (594) and Quinton de Kock (591) having scored more than the 23-year-old (565) during the group phase.
That haul has included three centuries and his recent score of 42 against Sri Lanka meant he became the highest-scoring player under the age of 25 at a single World Cup.
Ravindra struck 75 runs when these sides met in the group phase and it would be no surprise if he came out on top in terms of runs for New Zealand again.
RACHIN RAVINDRA TOP NEW ZEALAND RUNSCORER
Kohli To Make Experience Count
No batsman has racked up more runs at this year's World Cup than India veteran Virat Kohli, who is always a man for the big occasion.
The former India captain knows how to lead by example and should add to his total of 594 runs in nine innings at the tournament.
Kohli will always have competition to be his side's top runscorer - both Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul recorded centuries in the recent thrashing of the Netherlands - but he should contribute a decent total and is likely to again surpass the half-century mark.
Kohli has scored a 50 in more than half (five out of nine) of his 2023 World Cup innings and could do so again in this crunch semi-final.
VIRAT KOHLI TO SCORE A HALF CENTURY
Bumrah Always A Threat
Heading into the 2023 World Cup, all the talk was about the impact of spin on the subcontinent but a handful of pacemen have also made their mark, including home favourite Jasprit Bumrah.
India's prime bowler has claimed 17 wickets in nine innings at this year's World Cup, most recently finishing with figures of 2-33 against the Netherlands.
He picked up just the one wicket in the group phase fixture with New Zealand but is one of the most lethal bowlers on the planet and, like experienced teammate Kohli, he can be expected to raise his game for this tussle with the Black Caps.
JASPRIT BUMRAH TOP INDIA WICKETTAKER
