India v New Zealand: Toss likely to be key factor in World Cup semi-final

One team has won all nine matches at the 2023 World Cup, the other squeezed into the semi-finals despite losing four matches in a row. But when India and New Zealand face off in Mumbai on Wednesday for a spot in the final, the hosts will be the side under most pressure.

There will be the pressure of expectations, the pressure of maintaining their perfect record in the tournament, the pressure to claim glory for the golden generation of Indian cricket who are possibly playing their last ODI World Cup. And pressure of facing New Zealand in a knockout match.

The Kiwis seem to have some sort of hold over the Indian team in ICC events. At the 2019 World Cup in England, the two teams met in the semi-final in Manchester.

India saw their dreams crushed over a two-day rain interrupted match where MS Dhoni was run out within touching distance of the target as the Kiwis won by 18 runs and went on to lose against the hosts in the greatest ever World Cup final.

The Black Caps once again got the better of India two years later in the 2021 World Test Championship final.

No wonder the Indians are wary of the Kiwis, especially since the venue of the semi-final – the Wankhede Stadium – suits their opponents more than any venue in the country due to the help it offers to fast bowlers.

However, Rohit Sharma's team have been in exceptional form this campaign. Virat Kohli is on the verge of 50 ODI hundreds, captain Rohit Sharma has emerged as the most destructive batsman in the opening powerplay, while the middle of Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja has delivered when required.

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Their bowling, however, has set them apart. Following the injury to Hardik Pandya, India have gone in with five