Ahead of their ODI World Cup 2023 semi-final against India, New Zealand pacer Trent Boult has made a bold statement saying that the hosts are playing a positive style of cricket but pressure does things to the best of players at any time.
After New Zealand’s big win over Sri Lanka in Bengaluru, a decent idea of what the semi-final fixtures could look like at the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup can be formed. While there are still mathematical possibilities for Pakistan or Afghanistan to edge out the Black Caps, they are pretty slim.
The mega tournament will witness a repeat of the 2019 World Cup semi-final clash with India taking on New Zealand at the Wankhede on November 15.
And Boult, whose Player of the Match showing against Sri Lanka on Thursday helped New Zealand place a firm grip on a semi-final spot at the 2023 World Cup, is excited about the challenge.
“I can’t speak on what they’re thinking but from our point of view to play the World Cup in India and to come up against the host nation a team that’s red hot playing good cricket at a great ground – you couldn’t script it any better,” said Boult, ahead of the semis.
“So excited … , I feel like we’ve done all we can from our point of view and yeah, we’ll just wait and see what happens,” he added.
Earlier in the tournament, when the teams met in Dharamsala, India won by four wickets chasing 274 against New Zealand.
Meanwhile, the conditions in Mumbai are expected to be more batting-friendly than in Dharamsala, but Boult, who has traditionally well against India, isn’t looking too far ahead.
“Hard to comment on what the conditions will be at Wankhede, but you know, history suggests it’s a good wicket and, yeah, nice to have come up against them in Dharamshala,” the pacer said.
“Totally different ground and different facilities, but, yeah, we’ll turn our focus to that challenge. Very, very good players, but pressure does things to the best of players at any time. So just look forward to taking that on,” he added.
Talking of India’s proactive approach with the bat, the 34-year-old commented that it opens up possibilities for the bowling side too, but maintained that it would be immensely exciting to face the hosts in a semi-final.
“They’re playing a positive style of cricket and yeah, I suppose playing shots does present chances – but yeah, we’re going to be very clear with how we’re going to tackle that game, if it happens, it still has to be ticked off,” said Boult.
“But, yeah, I think there’ll be a lot of excitement and the prospect of that challenge and like I said it doesn’t get any bigger than taking on India in front of 1.5 billion people,” he added.