In a highly anticipated semifinal clash at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday, November 15, India will take on New Zealand, the reigning champions, in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. India, the tournament’s hosts, has maintained an impressive record of nine consecutive victories throughout the league stage, including a resounding win over New Zealand in Dharamsala. However, as the knockout stage intensifies, the pressure of achieving victory will be immense for the Men in Blue.
In light of this pressure, India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, faces a crucial decision upon winning the toss in the first semifinal. Recognizing the importance of this choice, former Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has offered valuable advice to the Indian skipper.
Sunil Gavaskar believes that even though the toss may not be a decisive factor in determining the game’s outcome, India’s fearless performance throughout the tournament suggests that they should field first if they win the toss.
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Gavaskar, a seasoned veteran of the Mumbai cricket scene, is well-versed in the conditions at Wankhede Stadium. He suggests that fielding first will allow India’s bowlers to capitalize on the favorable conditions under the lights, making it challenging for New Zealand’s batters. This strategy is particularly effective considering the exceptional performance of India’s pace trio – Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj.
“Well, if you have got a good bowling attack like India have, it does not really matter if they are bowling first or bowling second. Clearly, if they are bowling second, it will help because we have seen under a little bit of dew that comes in, the ball flies to the wicketkeeper a little bit quicker,” Sunil Gavaskar explained on Star Sports’ show- Game Plan.
Gavaskar further emphasized the significance of India’s spin department in the first semifinal. He highlighted the crucial role of Kuldeep Yadav, suggesting that the spinner’s effectiveness will be enhanced in the second innings compared to bowling first at Wankhede. By asking New Zealand to chase a target, India can exert scoreboard pressure, making it difficult for the dark horses to maintain a steady run rate.
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“So, it certainly will help the three new ball bowlers in the Indian line-up for sure, and it also helps a spinner like Kuldeep Yadav to get the ball to skid out of the surface also quicker. So yes, if India is defending a total bowling second, I do believe that will help also because there is scoreboard pressure, you might not be able to get 400 but 260 or 270, that will put pressure on New Zealand,” Sunil Gavaskar concluded.
India’s decision to field first or bat first will be a crucial factor in the outcome of the semifinal match against New Zealand. By following Gavaskar’s advice and considering the strengths of their team, India has a strong chance of advancing to the World Cup final.
