As the cricket world turns its eyes toward the upcoming World Cup semifinal, there are few pundits better equipped to analyze the India versus New Zealand clash than Mike Hesson. His insights draw from a rich vein of experience acquired through years at the heart of Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket, as well as his intimate knowledge of the Kiwi cricketing landscape. Hesson describes the encounter as a proverbial David against Goliath battle — with unbeaten India being the formidable Goliath in this scenario, hosting the Black Caps — a resilient side that keeps stepping up to the plate.
For New Zealand, Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai stands out as a venue with a touch of favoritism, Hesson contends. His reasoning is built upon the memories of New Zealand’s past successes, including chasing down 281 with six wickets in hand against India. Significantly, Tom Latham, whose current form might not be glittering like the other top-order bats, notched a century (103 not out) during that match, and could potentially find similar form in this crucial game.
Bowling strategies are also crucial, with Hesson pointing out the potential bounce on offer at the Wankhede might be something the New Zealand bowlers can exploit. Dismissing Indian top-order batsmen early on could prove crucial to tilt the scales in the Kiwis’ favor. Nevertheless, Hesson firmly believes that while New Zealand approach the semis as underdogs, their status does not undermine the palpable ability within the squad to pose a serious challenge to the hosts.
The role of the toss is often highlighted as a decisive factor in Indian conditions. Hesson articulates his relief that, at the Wankhede, its influence might be diluted, ensuring a fairer contest that does not lean heavily towards the side winning the flip of the coin. This aligns well with New Zealand’s adaptable nature, as they are equipped to bat first if required, and their ability to swing the ball under lights if they bowl in the second innings.
Hesson’s assessment of the individual match-ups paints a detailed tactical battleground awaiting both teams. He underlines India’s new-ball attack as a formidable force, emphasizing the performances of Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj. For New Zealand, blunting this attack and capitalizing on their proficiency against spin could be the key to setting the stage for a competitive score.
From the bowling perspective, Hesson acknowledges the challenge of containing an in-form Rohit Sharma and posits intriguing head-to-heads, like Trent Boult’s swing testing the Indian top order or Mitchell Santner’s match-up with a red-hot Virat Kohli. He also dismisses concerns over Boult’s form, suggesting that the swing-friendly conditions at the Wankhede could bring out his best.
The former coach also dismisses the results of the league match between the two sides in Dharamsala as having little bearing on the upcoming knockout game. Instead, Hesson points to the thin line between dominance and vulnerability if New Zealand can snag early wickets to expose India’s relatively less formidable lower order.
Moreover, captaincy is raised as a point of discussion, with Hesson lauding Rohit Sharma’s leadership, complemented by his personal form with the bat, and contrasting it with Kane Williamson’s style. He suggests, however, that in a one-off game like the semifinal, captaincy might take a back seat to skill and talent rising to the occasion.
New Zealand’s surprise package could be Rachin Ravindra, whose Indian origin and recently demonstrated competence with the bat might serve the team well under Indian conditions. And while majority crowd support will be for India, Hesson expresses confidence in the Kiwis’ ability to channel the pressure from the crowd into motivation, using the environment to their advantage.
In conclusion, New Zealand’s readiness for the challenge, their strategic insights, and their past performances set the tone for a classic David versus Goliath showdown, wherein even the underdogs could emerge triumphantly when the final ball is bowled at the iconic Wankhede.