India's coaching staff inspect Wankhede surface ahead of New Zealand semi-final

India are all set to play the first semi-final of the ongoing 2023 ODI World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 15. They have been unbeaten in the tournament, winning all nine of their games so far and are in excellent form.

Before the match, India's head coach Rahul Dravid, Vikram Rathore, and Paras Mhambrey were seen inspecting the pitch at the Wankhede Stadium ahead of the semi-final. While the Indian team went to their hotel after landing, the coaching staff went straight to the venue to inspect the pitch and had some lengthy discussions. Coincidentally, this is the same pitch where Maxwell scored a blistering 201 against Afghanistan.

India are all set to face New Zealand in the first semi-final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 after an impressive performance in the league stage. The Indian team, riding high on their recent victory against the Netherlands, secured the top spot on the points table and are prepared for a tough match against the Kiwis.

The home advantage has been in favour of the Indian team, with their top-order batters in excellent form and their bowlers consistently troubling opponents throughout the league games. With victories in their last four encounters against New Zealand, the Indian side is drawing inspiration from past successes.

New Zealand, coming off a recent victory against Sri Lanka, are determined to turn the tables against India. The Kiwis are looking to capitalize on the high stakes involved in this crucial clash, remembering their triumph over India in the 2019 World Cup semifinal.

Rohit Sharma's squad, initially considered tournament favourites, has lived up to expectations with convincing wins and dominant performances. Sharma, alongside Shubman Gill, aims to replicate their earlier success against New Zealand, while Virat Kohli's stellar form in the middle order further strengthens India's batting lineup.

The Indian bowling attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj, will look to dismantle the Kiwi top order early in the game. With the formidable pair of Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja, India aims to maintain consistency and control in the crucial semifinal clash.

On the other hand, New Zealand's skipper Kane Williamson, high on confidence by his team's recent victory against Sri Lanka, is eyeing a repeat of their 2019 feat when they knocked India out of the tournament. With key players like Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra in good form, the Kiwis boast a strong batting lineup.

As both teams leave no stone unturned in their quest for a spot in the World Cup final, fans can anticipate a fiercely contested match with high stakes as the battle for supremacy unfolds.