Kane Williamson backs Rachin Ravindra to deliver during Ind vs NZ ODI WC 2023 S/F
Kane Williamson backs Rachin Ravindra to deliver results during Ind vs NZ ODI WC 2023 semi-final in Wankhede
Mumbai: New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has praised all-rounder Rachin Ravindra ahead of the semi-final of the ongoing 2023 ODI World Cup against India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Williamson also revealed that everyone is fit for the New Zealand cricket team for the knockout match and that many Indian fans are expected at the venue.
“Rachin was great, the way he scored was exceptional. One day Cricket and the World Cup will get a good response. I can’t predict the future of ODI. You have to see what people want to see. Tomorrow we expect a sea of blue. Special to play against India in the semi-finals of the World Cup. We know it will be an extremely exciting challenge. Our focus is on our cricket.” said Williamson during a pre-match conference.
Hosts India have shown a quality performance in the ongoing extravagant tournament and have maintained their nine-match winning streak. Rohit Sharma’s side finished the league stage at the top of the 2023 ODI World Cup 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 fourth on the points table. India started their campaign after defeating Australia. The ‘Men in Blue’ then defeated Afghanistan, their arch-rivals Pakistan, Bangladesh, New Zealand, England, Sri Lanka, South Africa and the Netherlands.
The ‘Men in Blue’ ended the competition round with a resounding 160-point victory over the Dutch team, keeping their perfect unbeaten record intact in the ongoing tournament.
On the other hand, New Zealand finished fourth, leaving Pakistan and Afghanistan out of contention. The semi-final encounter will be a huge test for the Indians, who have struggled in major competitions over the past decade.
The Men in Blue have won nine consecutive matches at this year’s World Cup, adding a third trophy to their collection after previous victories in 1983 and 2011.