New Zealand aims to rely on the wisdom of its seasoned players to confront the formidable challenge presented by India in the upcoming World Cup semifinal, according to opener Devon Conway. Despite finishing fourth in the points table after the 45-match league round, New Zealand boast a strong track record against India in the knockout stages of ICC events.
New Zealand have maintained a consistent presence in World Cup knockouts, reaching the semi-finals in the 2011 edition and finishing as runners-up in both the 2015 and 2019 editions. The upcoming semi-final poses a significant challenge for them as they face an undefeated Indian team in a rematch of their encounter in the last-four stage of the 2019 World Cup. The Blackcaps emerged victorious in the semifinal of the 2019 edition and secured a win in the final of the World Test Championship in 2021.
“We all know how good India are. They are carrying a lot of momentum (and) they have a strong squad,” Conway shared his thoughts in a video shared by New Zealand Cricket (NZC).
“But we are looking forward to that challenge. It is exciting for us to play against the host nation in the semifinal. We know they are going to be a threat, but we are looking forward to that challenge,” he added.
“We can acknowledge this is another special occasion for us. We are fortunate enough to have a lot of experience in our camp — guys who have been in these situations before. We can lean on those guys and it is very exciting as I can say,” the opening batter added.
Despite facing defeats in four out of their last five games, New Zealand remains determined to secure a spot in the final, maintaining their focus on advancing in the competition.
“It is one of our goals to be in the World Cup final. It is nice to be one step closer to that goal, everyone is very excited. We’ve been playing some good cricket. For us, it’s about continuing to do what we do. The rest will take care of itself,” he added.
