Shubman Gill‘s departure from the Cricket World Cup semifinal against New Zealand wasn’t due to a loss of form but rather a retirement hurt caused by leg cramps. Gill, displaying promising form throughout the innings, intensified his play after Rohit Sharma’s exit.
However, during the 23rd over, while facing Mitchell Santner, he experienced cramps that led to him walking off the field. Despite the medical team’s intervention, Gill couldn’t resume, making way for Shreyas Iyer.
India, led by captain Rohit Sharma, chose to bat first in the semifinal—a rematch of the 2019 encounter where New Zealand emerged victorious. India, topping the standings in the league stage with a perfect score of 18, faced a familiar opponent. New Zealand secured the fourth spot after a roller-coaster group stage, setting the stage for a high-stakes clash.
Drop a ❤️ for The Prince 🤴
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) November 15, 2023
We hope the injury isn’t serious and Gill can return to carry on from where he left off! 👊#PlayBold #INDvNZ #TeamIndia #CWC23 @ShubmanGill pic.twitter.com/kwro2lQH1c
Notable performers in the tournament include Virat Kohli, leading the run charts with 594 runs, and Rachin Ravindra, the top scorer for New Zealand with 565 runs. India’s bowling prowess is led by Jasprit Bumrah, claiming 17 wickets, supported by Mohammed Shami with 16 wickets in just five games. Mitchell Santner is the leading wicket-taker for New Zealand with 16 dismissals.
The Wankhede Stadium, the venue for this crucial match, has seen varying ODI scores, emphasizing the importance of the toss. The pitch, without grass cover, is expected to favor batsmen. Reports suggest the Indian team requested the pitch used in a previous game. The Arabian Sea breeze and potential dew could influence swing and conditions in the second innings.
Both teams fielded unchanged lineups, with India featuring Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and others, while New Zealand included Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, and Mitchell Santner in their playing XI. The outcome of this semifinal could set the stage for the second semifinal between South Africa and Australia in Kolkata.
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