The group stage of the Cricket World Cup has finally drawn to a close and the semifinal line up is set.
India will take on New Zealand in the first semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Then, on Thursday, Australia and South Africa will write a new chapter in their Cricket World Cup rivalry at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
The winners of the semifinals will meet in Ahmedabad for the final on Sunday November 19.
Unbeaten in the group stages, India is riding ahead of the intense pressure wave that their billion supporters are generating.
So far, India has looked unstoppable.
This year India has only lost five of their 30 matches, with one no result.
Of the 21 matches that have taken place in India in 2023, they have lost just three — all against Australia.
Virat Kohli, after a massive gap between international centuries, is finally back to his best, scoring a tournament-high 594 runs at an average of 99.00 this tournament with two centuries and five fifties from his nine innings so far.
Kohli’s form has only been part of the picture though — India average 57.34 runs per wicket at this World Cup, over 12 runs per wicket more than any other team.
Rohit Sharma has led the team with distinction, batting brilliantly at the top of the order to score 503 runs with a century and three fifties.
His ability to adjust to the varying conditions and game scenarios is unrivalled at the best of times, and he has done that again in this tournament as well as managing the extraordinary pressure.
He is also managing his wealth of bowlers perfectly as well.
Jasprit Bumrah’s availability helps no end, with his 17 wickets costing him 15.64 runs each, while his economy is a sensational 3.65 runs per over.
In fact, India’s phenomenal bowling has been a cut above the rest this tournament.
Of bowlers who have sent down 30 or more overs so far this tournament, four of the top seven most economical bowlers are Indian.
After losing their opening two matches, Australia has now won seven-straight to soar into the semifinals — their best ODI winning streak since they won 10 in a row in 2019.
It’s not always been easy — without Glenn Maxwell’s heroics Australia would likely have fallen to defeat against Afghanistan — but pivotal performances like that help keep the momentum rolling as Australia meets South Africa in the semi.
Rachin Ravindra only played his first ODI for New Zealand in March this year.
Now, the 23-year-old will have a chance to give himself the best possible 24th birthday present imaginable by leading New Zealand to a third-consecutive World Cup final.
Ravindra, who will celebrate his birthday on Saturday, is having a superb tournament.
Three centuries, two fifties and a total of 565 runs at an average of 70.62 — it’s been a brilliant tournament for the youngster, who surpassed Jonny Bairstow’s record for the most runs scored by a World Cup debutant and, perhaps more importantly, Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most runs scored by a player under the age of 25 at a single World Cup.
Well the stats suggest that South Africa really struggles batting second at this World Cup.
South Africa has lost twice in the tournament so far — to India and the Netherlands — and both times they were chasing.
The other times South Africa batted second, they limped to a one-wicket victory over Pakistan with just 16 balls to spare but, importantly, beat Afghanistan by five wickets with 15 balls remaining in their final pool stage match.
“In any chase, there has to be someone who plays an anchor role,” said Rassie van der Dussen, whose unbeaten 76 from 95 balls helped South Africa get over the line in Ahmedabad against Afghanistan.
(ABC)
