Former England footballer David Beckham is likely to
be in attendance alongside India icon Sachin Tendulkar and a host of
celebrities watch the India vs New Zealand semi-final clash at Wankhede Stadium
in Mumbai on Wednesday.
The football legend is on a three-day visit to India
and is likely to mark his presence at the Wankhede. Several other former
cricketers, film personalities and sports stars are also likely to be in the
VVIP gallery as India clash with New Zealand.
Beckham is in India as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
The International Cricket Council has entered into a partnership with
UNICEF to empower women and girls and promote
inclusion and gender equality through cricket.
Hosts India have displayed a quality performance at
the ongoing extravagant tournament and maintained their nine-game winning
streak. Rohit Sharma’s side ended the league stage at the top of the ODI World
Cup 2023 standings with 18 points. They had a net run rate of +2.570.
After finishing at the top of the standings, India
will take on the Kiwis, who finished in fourth place on the points table.
India started their campaign after defeating
Australia. The ‘Men in Blue’ then went on to defeat Afghanistan, their
arch-rival Pakistan, Bangladesh, New Zealand, England, Sri Lanka, South Africa,
and the Netherlands.
The ‘Men in Blue’ finished the league round with a
resounding 160-run victory over the Dutch side, keeping their perfect unbeaten
record in the ongoing tournament intact.
On the other hand, New Zealand finished fourth,
knocking Pakistan and Afghanistan out of contention. The semi-final encounter
will be a huge test for the Indians, who have struggled in big competitions
over the last decade.
The Men in Blue have won nine consecutive matches at
this year’s World Cup, putting them in position to add a third trophy to their
collection after previous triumphs in 1983 and 2011.
ANI
