Rohit Sharma gets India off to rapid start at Wankhede

India vs New Zealand ICC World Cup 2023 semifinal India captain Rohit Sharma led from the front with a blistering 47 in the ICC World Cup 2023 semifinal against New Zealand in Mumbai on Wednesday Rohit who won the toss at his Wankhede Stadium home ground struck four fours and four sixes in just 29 balls But the 36yearold who has scored over 500 runs in the tournament fell in sight of fifty when he skyed a drive off a Tim Southee cutter and was well caught by New Zealand captain Kane Williamson running back at midoff Rohits exit left India 711 in the ninth overThree of the four previous tournament games at the Wankhede have been won by the team batting first with the exception Australias stunning defeat of Afghanistan where Glenn Maxwells remarkable 201 not out secured a threewicket victory Both unbeaten tournament hosts India and New Zealand were unchanged It looks like a good pitch on the slower side as well but whatever we do we know weve got to do that well said opening batsman Rohit at the toss New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson added We wouldve had a bat first as well Its obviously a used surface but well try to make use of it with the ball first up and hopefully theres some dew later Before the game got underway India cricket icon Tendulkar and former England football captain Beckham paraded the World Cup trophyAlso ReadA date with destiny at WankhedeIndias Virat Kohli needs one more century to set an outright new oneday international record of 50 hundreds after he drew level with retired former teammate Sachin Tendulkars mark of 49 against South Africa Notably India won all nine of their pool matches but were pushed hard by New Zealand during a fourwicket success in Dharamsala last month New Zealand by contrast lost four games before qualifying for the knockout stages Exactly four years ago the Black Caps defeated India in a World Cup semifinal in Manchester that spanned two days because of rain India are bidding for a third oneday international World Cup title to add to their 1983 triumph in England and 2011 victory over Sri Lanka in a Wankhede final New Zealand the finalists at the last two World Cups have yet to lift the trophy Wednesdays winners will face either fivetime champions Australia or South Africa who meet in Thursdays second semifinal in Kolkata in an Ahmedabad final on SundayWith agency inputs