New Zealand are oozing with confidence to repeat history just like 2019 in the Manchester semi-final, but also know it will be more challenging as the match will be played at the Indians’ backyard, at the Wankhede.
However, relying on their charismatic skipper Kane Williamson, the Kiwis are eager to pull it off again, just like four years ago.
New Zealand’s World Cup preparation suffered a scare when Willamson got badly injured while playing for his Indian Premier League franchise Gujarat Titans.
The injury looked so serious that he was ruled out of the remainder of the IPL and considered a major doubt for the World Cup.
But New Zealand Cricket named Williamson as captain in the World Cup squad knowing his immense value to the team, and was also mindful that he would miss the first few games to regain full fitness.
The team management did not take any risk in the first couple of matches, although he did play both the warm-up games prior to the tournament.
The Kiwi skipper returned to the playing XI against Bangladesh in Chennai and played a gem of an innings (78) while chasing 246 before hurting his thumb and getting ruled out once again.
Scan later revealed that he had broken thumb and will take a few weeks to recover.
The Black Caps kept faith on their leader and did not add a replacement to the squad.
And he returned against Pakistan in Bengaluru and played another brilliant innings of 95 where New Zealand posted 401.
“An interesting journey for sure. From sort of it not being a chance (to getting fit before World Cup) and then getting close (to return) and then it becoming a reality and something to target and certainly feeling really grateful to be here. And then to get back in the playing XI and then break my thumb (against Bangladesh). It's not funny. No, it was quite frustrating and testing but still feeling that it hadn't ruled me out so I still was grateful for that and it's nice to be fitter than perhaps I was yesterday and be sitting here. So personally, it's great to be here and it's nice to be a part of this tournament. These tournaments are special and world events in India certainly add to that,” Williamson said during the pre-match press conference at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai Tuesday.
Williamson made his international bow in 2010 and is playing his fourth consecutive semi-final in the 50-over World Cup.
Among the four, this is his second as captain.
The last time New Zealand played against India at the semi-finals was in Manchester where the Black Caps won by 18 runs.
Williamson’s leadership was praised in that game as they successfully defended a moderate total of 240 in a rain-hit match.
This time also, the Kiwis will look to their experienced skipper hoping that the elegant right-hander scores big and guides his team to another famous win against a strong Indian side.
