India skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bat against New Zealand in their ODI World Cup 2023 semi-final match on Wednesday in Mumbai.
The Men in Blue are unbeaten in the tournament so far
after playing nine games, while, the Kiwis after enjoying a brilliant start to
the tournament left it late to qualify for the final four stage.
India will be looking to avoid a repeat of the 2019
World Cup semi-final when the Blackcaps knocked them out of the tournament
after they stayed unbeaten in the group stage.
Fans pray for India victory
Meanwhile, fans have started to gather outside the
Wankhede stadium to support the Indian team, hoping and praying that the Men in
Blue emerge victorious.
Cricket fans at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park in
Mumbai cheered for the Indian team. A fan, Anand Prajapati said, “We are
very excited for this match. Last time we could not make it but this time we
won’t lose the opportunity. All batsmen and batters are in form.”
Another fan, Nitin believes India will reach the
final, “Today is the Semi-Final, the team will definitely reach the Final. All
the players of Team India are going to play well. All of them are in good form.”
Fans from all over India are praying for India’s
victory, a pandit named Acharya Gaurang recited shlokas at Shaktipeeth Ambaji
Temple in Banaskantha, Gujarat for the success of the Indian team.
“We pray to Bhagwati for Team India’s victory not only
in today’s semi-finals but the Finals as well,” Acharya Gaurang said.
A devotee Prakash Joshi also wished for team India’s
victory and said, “We pray Maa Ambaji for our team’s victory. We could not do
it the last time but this time we will, we have to win the World Cup.”
Not only in Gujarat, Indian Cricket fans at Madurai
Jallikattu Rotary Club offered prayers for team India’s victory ahead of the
semi-final match.
Young cricketers who are practising early in the nets
also wished for the success of Indian team against the Kiwis. Coach at the
training academy, Vikram Kumar said, “India’s ‘Vijay Rath’ has been going on so
well. This match will be very crucial but India will win it because their
bowling strength has been so good. I would give an 80% win predictability to
India…”
Harsh Kapoor a young cricketer said, “We lost the
semi-finals last time. But this time, I am confident that we will win. India
has played well and won all 9 matches. It will win today as well.”
Meanwhile, in Odishan, sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik
created a sand sculpture extending best wishes ahead of the World Cup 2023.
One of the most famous fans around the world Basheer
Chacha is confident about the Men in Blue’s success and said, “India will win,
they will reach the final and Rohit Sharma will lift the World Cup.”
Along with fans, politicians are also excited about
India’s World Cup clash against New Zealand. Sikkim Governor Lakshman Prasad
Acharya told ANI, “With the blessings of Baba Vishwanath, our team will
definitely win. I am confident. Our players are playing very well. Their morale
is high. My best wishes to the team. We have won all matches, we will win this
one too.”
India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat
Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah,
Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishan
Kishan, Prasidh Krishna, Suryakumar Yadav.
New Zealand squad: Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult,
Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl
Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitch Santner, Ish
Sodhi, Tim Southee, Will Young.
ANI
