New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is seen throughout a observe session forward of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 semifinal in opposition to India in Mumbai.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
The final time New Zealand featured in an ODI World Cup semifinal, in 2019, it got here out victorious in opposition to a star-studded India. Four years later, as the 2 groups meet once more in yet one more semifinal — this time on the Wankhede Stadium — New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is comfy with the ‘underdog’ tag connected to his aspect.
“I think every game in this tournament is a tricky one. As we have seen throughout, any team can beat anybody on the day. That’s obviously the quality on both sides, but it’s also about the changing conditions and how that has an impact. So, for us, it’s great to have got to the final stages and then take a fresh approach because it does start again,” Williamson mentioned on Tuesday.
“The underdog thing, I don’t think it has changed too much. But that’s fine. India has been exceptional. One of the (best), if not the best team going around, and playing cricket that matches that. But we know as well that on our day when we play our best cricket, it certainly gives us the best chance and come finals time, anything can happen…”
As the New Zealand captain’s media interplay continued for about twenty minutes, Williamson had a smile on his face all through and as an alternative of being beneath stress forward of a marquee conflict, he even cracked jokes at scribes from New Zealand.
The build-up to the match wasn’t good for him on account of damage, however he did handle to place issues collectively and discover his mojo. “It was an interesting journey for sure… It was quite frustrating and testing but still feeling that it hadn’t ruled me out so I still was grateful for that and it’s nice to be fitter than perhaps I was yesterday and be sitting here,” Williamson mentioned.
It can be a problem for each the groups to not take into consideration what occurred 4 years earlier on the similar stage within the match. But Williamson had a completely different take.
“The teams work hard to get to this stage, they have to play a lot of good cricket within the format or the structure of the tournament to get here over such a long period of time. It’s a great occasion and it’s on the day. Both teams are looking to play their best cricket and compete in the best way that they can…”
