Cricket World Cup: Numbers behind India's knockout woes, Australia's dominance and more

With the group phase of the 2023 ODI World Cup over, we have our semi-finalists and, looking at the way the stage panned out, it is safe to say the best teams have qualified for the last four.

India and New Zealand will clash in the first semi-final in Mumbai on Wednesday while Australia and South Africa face off in Kolkata the day after.

Here we take a closer look at the four semi-finalists.

The 45-match group stage of the 2023 World Cup ended with India, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand qualifying for the semi-finals.

Interestingly, these are also the four teams, albeit in a different order, who have the highest win percentage in men’s World Cups in the past 10 years (three tournaments in 2015, 2019 and 2023).

Pakistan, who have the fifth highest win percentage, finished at the same position in this World Cup, just like they did in the previous edition in 2019.

Australia and New Zealand are the only two teams in the world who have reached the semi-finals on nine occasions at the men’s World Cup. However, they have produced contrasting results.

While Australia have won seven semi-finals (the most by any team), New Zealand have passed this stage just twice.

But the Black Caps can draw comfort from the fact that their two semi-final wins came in the two most recent editions – against India in Manchester in 2019 and against South Africa in Auckland in 2015.

South Africa, who have never won played a World Cup final, will be looking for a first win in five attempts when they take on Australia in Kolkata.

India’s case is quite interesting. Two of their four defeats in the semis have come in the past two World Cups – against New Zealand in 2019 and against Australia in 2015.

In the past 10 years, India have lost just