Revenge or repeat: IND looks to avenge 2019 SF defeat against NZ today

MUMBAI: A relentless India rocketed through its league engagements with nine wins on the bounce but the past record is just a shiny antique in a showcase and the host will have to be at its gun-slinging best when it faces familiar foe New Zealand in the first World Cup semifinal, here Wednesday.

The 2019 Manchester heartbreak might be lingering in a corner of the host’s mind as an irritant. The Kiwis also had the measure of India in the ICC WTC Final in 2021, if one needs more attestation of the Kiwis’ grip over the latter in global events.

However, this Indian side has shown a propensity to rise above an uncomfortable past, but it will be aware that any slip-up at the Wankhede Stadium will be viewed as a national catastrophe, shattering a billion hearts.

So, India will also have to rise above the pressure emanating out of those enormous expectations placed on it, also heightened by its league phase bull run.

Captain Rohit and coach Rahul Dravid, two individuals who know all about the pitfalls of heavy expectations, will have to keep their outfit calm, nestled away from the fear of failure in a crunch match.

But those are more matters of the mind. There are just as significant matters to take care of on the field.

To start with, the Indian team and its legion of fans will hope and pray that Rohit calls it right at the toss. The teams batting second at this venue have invariably lost early wickets in clusters under lights with the new ball moving dangerously in the air and off the deck.

Both India and New Zealand have bowlers who can inflict severe damage with the new ball.

In that context, a lot will depend on the fearless approach of Indian openers -- Rohit and Shubman Gill.

The Mumbaikar has so far made 503 runs and will hope for a continuation, but Gill with a tally of 270 runs from seven matches would like to own the stage with a blistering effort against the Kiwis.

Virat Kohli is now the top run-getter in the tournament with 593 runs, and the landmark of 50 ODI hundreds is waiting to be reached. He would like to marry the milestone with an Indian victory.

Kohli would also like to break the semifinal jinx after getting dismissed for one in the 2019 and 2015 edition.

India will also be delighted to see its middle-order batters KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer hitting top form ahead of the semis though the management will welcome some runs from Suryakumar Yadav.

Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav have been as lethal as they ever have been but the limelight, to a large extent, has been stolen by Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj who have been unplayable when on song.

In this World Cup, no other bowling line-up has produced a masterclass in bowling on flat wickets than India’s.