India’s claimed ‘best ever XI’ for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 doesn’t intimidate New Zealand.
India have ‘no chinks in their armour’ but New Zealand won’t be daunted by the hosts in the semifinal at Wankhede Stadium, James Franklin says.
Cricket Showdown at Wankhede: New Zealand’s Resilience Against India’s Dominance in ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Semifinal
Ex-New Zealand all-rounder James Franklin is confident that his fellow countrymen won’t be intimidated by what he considers the “finest” Indian cricket team in history. The two teams are set to clash at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday, with India securing the top spot on the points table by emerging victorious in all nine group stage matches. Despite finishing fourth with five wins, New Zealand aims to reach their third consecutive final, having faced defeats in 2015 and 2019.
Franklin, a former Blackcaps player, contributed to the team from 2001 to 2013. His familiarity with the Wankhede Stadium comes from his time playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he was part of the Mumbai Indians, a five-time championship-winning team.
Franklin conveyed to Al Jazeera on Tuesday, “India will perceive that they lack vulnerabilities in both their tactical approach and current form.”
While acknowledging the presence of outstanding players from the past who could feature in an all-time Indian one-day international (ODI) XI, it’s challenging to ignore the claim that the current team stands as the best XI ever,” remarked the former New Zealand all-rounder James Franklin.
India is on a winning streak and appears to have no chinks in their armor,” expressed the former New Zealand all-rounder James Franklin.
No pressure on the home favorites, India:
According to the 41-year-old, the host nation boasts a formidable combination of youth and experience in their batting lineup, featuring established stars like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, along with confident young talents such as Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer.
“It’s a bit concerning from a global perspective that they [Gill and Iyer] are poised to perform exceptionally well for several more years,” remarked the former New Zealand all-rounder.
India, having clinched the 2011 Cricket World Cup, where they were joint hosts with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, is no stranger to the grand stage. The team, led by MS Dhoni, secured victory at the Wankhede Stadium, the same venue as the upcoming semifinal. The 2011 triumph, coupled with their earlier win in 1983 in England, showcases India’s prowess in the cricketing world.
Despite the weight of expectations, Franklin believes that the current Indian team will handle the pressure well in their pursuit of a third crown. Reflecting on Sachin Tendulkar’s assessment of the 2011 final, Franklin highlighted how the team turned pressure into an advantage, with “a billion people lifting us up and pushing us along.”
“This Indian team approaches it in the same way,” emphasized Franklin, dismissing concerns about undue pressure affecting the team’s performance.
The key to success for New Zealand lies in mastering the powerplays:
India convincingly won their group stage encounter against New Zealand in Dharamsala, where Daryl Mitchell’s century went in vain due to Mohammed Shami’s five-wicket haul, and Virat Kohli narrowly missed a century during the chase.
According to James Franklin, the crucial factor for New Zealand will be to restrain India during the initial stages of each inning—a facet they struggled with in their recent encounter.
“It will boil down to how effectively New Zealand can assert themselves during the two powerplays,” Franklin explained. “If India manages to establish control after the powerplays, it will pose a significant challenge for New Zealand, given India’s historical dominance in that phase.”
Drawing on his experience as part of New Zealand’s 2011 World Cup squad, Franklin emphasized the importance of his compatriots staying ahead in the first 10 overs of both innings.
Highlighting the aggressive early batting displays by Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill in the tournament, Franklin expressed concern about his former IPL captain Rohit’s high strike rate, deeming him a formidable and dangerous player.
“Rohit has assumed a slightly different role and has exhibited greater intent. We are well aware of his credentials as an ODI batter,” Franklin remarked. He emphasized that New Zealand’s pacers, Trent Boult and Tim Southee, must dismiss the “phenomenal” Rohit, who has notably elevated his strike rate.
India’s fast bowlers wreak havoc:
The spotlight at this World Cup hasn’t solely been on India’s batting prowess; their seam bowling attack has also propelled them to the brink of being considered their best ever.
Jasprit Bumrah, consistently reliable since his return from a two-year battle with injuries, has excelled as the opening bowler, alongside the impressive Mohammed Siraj.
India has effectively coped with the setback of losing Hardik Pandya to injury during the World Cup. Mohammed Shami, stepping into Pandya’s role, has not only filled the void but also amassed a significant number of wickets.
James Franklin noted that India’s trio of seamers has “caused chaos.”
“Following the seamers, the spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav has proven to be economical with the ball while contributing with crucial wickets,” he added.
‘New Zealand will not be intimidated’:
New Zealand managed to alleviate some of the heartbreak from their 2019 final loss by commencing this tournament with a victory against defending champions England.
Should they triumph over India, it would mark a remarkable third consecutive appearance in the World Cup final, having also faced defeat in 2015 against Australia.
“There won’t be any intimidation for New Zealand,” asserted James Franklin.
“They have individuals who have encountered and participated in significant ICC world events, along with several players boasting IPL experience and impressive performances.
“They comprehend the dynamics of large crowds and the pressure associated with pivotal matches. Their cricketing mindset is such that they consistently approach each game with a commitment to deliver on the big stage.
By: M Z Hossain, Editor Sky Buzz Feed
