World Cup Semi-Final: Team India's Way Forward To Shatter The Kiwi Jinx

Millions of expectations precede Team India every time they cross over to the cricket field. The heroes, the superheroes and even the gods are under tremendous pressure to live up to the expectations of the fans, who want individuals as well as the team to entertain and instill a sense of pride in them. That, too, is not asked for but demanded.

When local boy Rohit Sharma will lead team India to Mumbai's majestic Wankhede Stadium for the semi-final against New Zealand on Wednesday, the waves in the Arabian Sea will symbolise the excitement of Indian fans, eager to see India winning a somewhat jinxed battle against the Kiwis.

While the men in blue have played impeccable cricket throughout the tournament so far, they are well aware of the results against New Zealand in the ICC tournaments. Should they be worried this time around? Not at all. With all due respect to the Kiwis, India has little to worry about if they stick to the plans and don't get frustrated with New Zealand's art of controlling the pace of the game.

Semi-finals are high-pressure knock-out games that require slight adjustments to the plans. New Zealand comes across as a cohesive unit that leaves no stone unturned in pursuit of winning the crucial matches. It consistently features in the last four teams of big tournaments. Here's what India could do to get past the Kiwis and meet the other finalist in Ahmedabad on Sunday, November 19.

1. Forget the past, march on

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Four years ago, India lost to the same team at the Old Trafford. The fans can't forget the face painful face of Mahendra Singh Dhoni after getting run out. This was one of the several occasions when India lost to the Kiwis in important matches. Its memories might still haunt some of the players who were there with the team, but this will be a whole new game altogether. India must begin the game believing in their abilities and the favourable results of the last 9 games.

2. Win the toss and bat first

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The pitch at the Wankhede stadium has a lot of runs on offer. India has sweet memories of chasing 270-odd runs in the 2011 World Cup final here. However, India must go with its strength and put up a good total for the Kiwis to chase. At the moment, both batting and bowling are working for the team, as Bumrah and company are looking good at restricting any opposition to a chaseable total. But in a high-pressure game, India would want its batters to do the job and put them in a comfortable position.

3. Spinners will come in handy

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New Zealand has some good batters against the spin attack. However, a change of pace and variety in bowling will be helpful in unsettling the batsman on a proper pitch. Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja are in top form, but some off-spinners, including captain Rohit, may have to roll their arms. Hopefully, Bumrah, Siraj and Shami can exploit the pitch early, but if they lag, India will be looking at the spinners to do the job for them.

4. Don't allow partnerships

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One thing that Indian bowlers have to make sure of is not allowing Kiwis to put up partnerships. Partnerships help reach big scores, and India, either bowling first or defending the score, can't afford batters like Williamson to dictate the terms to them. New Zealand's middle order is good enough to remove any opposition from the game. They don't allow time to relax at any stage of the game. Their running between the wickets put a lot of pressure on the fielders.

5. Be watchful against Boult

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Trent Boult has an uncanny knack for picking up early wickets and pushing the opposition to the backfoot in the game's early stages. The best strategy for Indian openers will be to play his first spell out and then look for the scoring opportunity. We have seen that Rohit Sharma is vulnerable to early in-swinging deliveries. He and Shubhman Gill should be looking to make a steady start.