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The four semi-finalists have been confirmed for the knockout stage of the ODI World Cup 2023, with India set to top the group stage standings and celebrated with a massive win over the Netherlands on Sunday. The knockout stage of the tournament hosted by India will see them facing New Zealand in the first semi-final at 2 pm IST on Wednesday, November 15, at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, the same venue where they secured a commanding 302-run victory over Sri Lanka earlier in the tournament.
The second semi-final, scheduled for Thursday, November 16, at 2 pm IST, will feature a clash between South Africa and Australia at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The winner of this match will advance to the final to compete against either India or New Zealand. The World Cup final is slated for Sunday, November 19, at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, with an expected attendance of over 100,000 fans marking the climax of the 13th edition of the tournament.
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World Cup 2023 semi-final line-ups:
Semi-final 1:
India v New Zealand, Wednesday November 15, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
India have been an exceptional side in the ongoing ODI World Cup. Barring a slight hiccup in their first match of the tournament, three of the top-order batters were sent back to the pavilion. But since that slight mishap, the side have not slipped up at all. They have taken all their opponents to the cleaners with both bat and ball, securing victories in all nine of their matches. This is the first time that the side have won all their matches in the group stages of a World Cup.
But they face a tough challenge against New Zealand, who Team India unceremoniously lost to in the semi-final of the ODI World Cup 2019. A rematch of the two teams earlier in the tournament saw a brilliant fightback from India, who went on to beat their opponents in a brilliant fashion. It was New Zealand's first loss of the tournament and since then, they lost three more and might actually count themselves lucky to eventually make the top four.
Semi-final 2: South Africa v Australia, Thursday November 16, Eden Gardens, Kolkata
If one team has been at the same level as India in the ongoing ODI World Cup, then it has to be South Africa. The side have lost just two matches — against the Netherlands and then India — and all eyes will be on their batting unit, who have been one of the most exciting in the tournament this time around. However, the absence of Temba Bavuma will be one of the talking points for the semi-final clash.
Meanwhile, Australia, known as heroes of the ODI World Cup, once again proved their mettle as five-time champions. They have been involved in some of the most exciting matches of this edition of the tournament, including the lovely comeback from 91/7, which involved Glenn Maxwell's unbeaten 201 against underdogs Afghanistan. The previous clash between these two sides saw a Quinton de Kock masterclass as the Proteas thrashed their opponents, but with a semi-final on the horizon, a much more competitive clash can be expected.
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