“Is there any flaw in India’s armor? Who knows. To find out, nine different teams made repeated unsuccessful attempts, and with each failed attempt, India’s aura strengthened, and their stature became even more formidable.
On Saturday, a member of the team’s support staff threw balls at Ishan Kishan from close quarters. Kishan seemed nonchalant, casually swatting at the balls with just his fingers. The night before, Ravichandran Ashwin bowled a delivery to Virat Kohli that appeared to be working towards the leg side, but the ball narrowly missed him, earning Ashwin a boundary. Perhaps it was a reverse carrom ball—hard to tell—but it left an impact on Kohli. Even in optional training sessions and with non-regular players in the XI, India’s presence is significant.
Through this splendid run, Rohit Sharma’s men have elevated the main character’s energy to a point where the lack of concern among their supporters has become the primary cause for concern in their path. Initially, it seemed like a rush to reach the pinnacle, but India kept winning. At that time, it was just about trying to win. But then India preserved the goal in the next four matches, even surpassing a score of 229. With the bat, they have crossed the 350-run mark twice, dismissing the opposition on several occasions with a double-century score. All of this, after losing an indispensable player like Hardik Pandya, playing with a long tail, and without the sixth bowling option. India deserves credit not only for their on-field excellence but also for their admirable resilience to meet the expectations of the public, maintaining composure amid challenges.
Up to this point, the road for New Zealand has not been easy, with consecutive losses and inclusion among the teams in the bottom half of the standings. Yet, they find themselves in the World Cup semifinal for the ninth time. In an era where financial strength often dictates terms, and the ‘Big 3’ hold considerable power, New Zealand’s ability to thrive through the haze of modest resources, harnessing the best of sports science, stands out.
On Wednesday, in the spiritual home of Indian cricket, Ken Williamson’s team will stand shoulder to shoulder with their rivals, even though they may not be seen in the same light on a broader scale. They may not be considered underdogs, but it’s a tag that Williamson has embraced happily throughout his cricketing history, even finding joy in the freedom that comes with it. They know the pressure will be on India; they have hopes to fulfill, knockouts to navigate, and the legacies of superstars to maintain. While the opposition fights hard, New Zealand may contemplate getting their one-percenters right, excelling in one-on-one battles, and sweating the small stuff in search of the spark: like a fielder sprinting in the 99th over of a match, hitting straight from deep backward square leg.
India has been living with memories of Manchester for the past four years, unable to secure a knockout win in ICC competitions. They have a short but intense interval in Mumbai for this match, which might be the best way to avoid overthinking the game. They are professionals, and with extensive experience in big games, they cannot take this semifinal lightly. However, what it truly is: a cricket match, much like the previous nine, for which they are fully prepared—regardless of history, rhetoric, or any other conditions. They will remain unchanged. Yet, nothing much has changed with them throughout the entire World Cup.”