ICC World Cup 2023: Captain Rohit unlikely to tinker with the winning combination ahead of a decisive clash against the Kiwis

The ICC Cricket World Cup has reached the business end and only three matches remain. Out of them, the most exciting and mouthwatering clash is going to take place in Wankhede during Semifinal 1. India takes on New Zealand again after the 2019 World Cup to fight for a place in the finals. On that occasion, the men in blue missed the finals by a whisker. Naturally, 4 years later when Rohit’s men meet the Kiwis, Indians will look to seek redemption this time.

India steamrolled opponents during the league stage of the tournament. Subsequently, the men in blue clinched victories in all nine league matches and secured the top spot on the points table. The team’s exceptional performance has been highlighted by a formidable batting lineup and a lethal bowling attack. Dravid’s boys have proved their mettle both on flat tracks as well as on slow-turning surfaces.

The predicted XI against the Kiwis

When it comes to lineup, India is likely to tinker with the perfect playing XI that it has found after the unfortunate injury of Hardik Pandya. Indian captain Rohit Sharma has led the team from the front at this ODI World Cup. His aggressive approach has eased pressure on the middle order. With 503 runs in nine matches, the right-handed batter has notched up one century and three half-centuries. On the other side, Shubman Gill may not have fully unleashed his potential in the tournament, he has effectively supported the captain in initiating the innings briskly.

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli has established himself as the most prolific run-scorer in the tournament so far. Kohli has demonstrated consistent run-scoring abilities while dropping anchor in challenging situations. The right-handed batter has scored runs at an average of 99 in the competition. However, it’s not only Virat who has delivered in big matches. Kohli has been supplemented ably by Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul who have been crucial in strengthening India’s middle order. Iyer’s aggressive mindset has seen him take the attack to the opposition. Meanwhile, KL Rahul has adopted a measured approach while constructing his innings. Both batters will enter the upcoming match with the confidence of having scored centuries against the Netherlands. The only grey area is the place of Suryakumar Yadav who have got limited opportunities so far.

On the other hand, India’s bowling department has also looked in perfect sync throughout the tournament. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj have established a formidable partnership. Both bowlers have consistently delivered early breakthroughs with the new ball. Meanwhile, Mohammed Shami has proven to be a potent force with the new ball as well in the middle overs. All of these bowlers have been supported by India’s primary two spinners, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. Kuldeep has so far secured 14 wickets in nine matches and has become a key asset for India. Meanwhile, Jadeja has maintained control over the run rate and secured crucial breakthroughs during the middle overs.

India’s Predicted XI

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj

If you are interested to know more about the ICC World Cup 2023, read here:

1. South Africa vs Afghanistan, 42th ODI: Predicted fantasy XI team and budget player
2. New Zealand vs Sri lanka, 41th ODI: Predicted fantasy XI team and budget player
3. New Zealand vs Sri lanka, 41th ODI: Predicted fantasy XI team and budget player

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