Six men in the likely starting 11 for the men in blue were not a part of the side that took the field at Old Trafford four years ago, when India’s hopes of winning another World Cup were crushed within the first Powerplay of the run chase. Whether there will be redemption or payback, only time will tell. Do the players remember that game? Of course they do. But in my opinion, a lot of water has flown under the bridge for both teams – four years, after all, is a long time.
What will be uppermost in the minds of the Indian players is the skillset of their opponents, along with their out-cricket, which is usually second to none. While there will be no stones to turn on a cricket field, the New Zealanders will leave no blade of grass untouched at the Wankhede. It is this trait of the Kiwis that India will be most wary of. They may be a country of only 5.12 million people, with just six first-class cricket teams compared to 38 in India. More importantly, cricket is not close to being their top sport. Yet, they beat India in that 2019 game, and in the inaugural World Test Championship final in 2021. We also know how cruel fate was to them in the 2019 final.
But as much as New Zealand command respect, this is as well-prepared as I have ever seen an Indian team. The batters are all in form, with some joining the party a little late. For me, the bowling has been the standout, and that has been such a pleasant surprise. In 2011, India’s batting was a touch stronger, but the bowling was not as formidable as this unit. Have they peaked at the right time, or too early? I think it will come down to handling the pressure at any given moment. Little passages in the game that are signposts on the road to the trophy. The Dhoni run-out after the direct hit from Martin Guptill – “Is that just a run-out or is that the door to the World Cup final?” was how the commentator on air put it, and he could not have been more right.
There will be less pressure on New Zealand, and not merely because India are playing at home. They are rarely, if ever, considered the favourites against other top sides because they don’t boast marquee names. What they almost always have are highly skilled and committed cricketers who turn up for work every day and get the job done. They remind me of a stretch limousine, always in cruise control. Not the jazziest set of wheels around, but oozing comfort, fluidity and calmness.
For India, it’s more about the accord of mind and muscle. The batting looks solid, and the bowling menacing, although the five-bowler theory always worries me. So far, so good, but who will bail India out on a rainy day? Kuldeep Yadav batting at No. 8 is another concern of mine. If these knockout games are all about chasing or putting up big totals, a long tail is, more often than not, a hindrance.
All that being said, both teams deserve to be where they are. How the surface at the Wankhede behaves will also have a huge bearing on this game. The better it is, the more even the game gets. If it is slow and tacky, then India have a slight advantage. I say slight, and not major, because New Zealand have bowlers like Mitchell Santner to exploit such conditions, and batters like Kane Williamson who can put up a fighting total. If it’s a low-scoring scrap, the Kiwis will be up for the fight.
If it’s quick and bouncy, it will be even more tight because New Zealand will enjoy the conditions, as will the Indian batters and bowlers. Red soil with bounce and carry is as good as it gets to play a game of cricket in India, and if that match happens to be the semi-final of the World Cup, there’s nothing quite like it.
All in all, we have a cracking game coming up – not an inch given, and not one taken. It will be India’s flair and flamboyance against the solidity, discipline and togetherness of New Zealand. Trouble the comfort and comfort the trouble seems to be New Zealand team’s mantra. Two different roads taken with vastly different terrains to reach this far. The ultimate destination is just a few hours north in Ahmedabad. Who will get there amid all the hype and fervour? Whatever the result, this could be a memorable day stitched into the World Cup tapestry.
Bring it on!