India vs New Zealand Prediction: King Kohli to lead hosts to final

The group stage of the Cricket World Cup is finally over and now we get onto two HUGE semi-finals, starting with the hosts, India, against last time's beaten finalists New Zealand. The game (08:30) is being played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and we have a full preview and betting predictions, as always. 

There's squeaky bum time and then there's 1 billion+ people cheering India (1/3) on a semi-final squeaky bum time.

The cricket-obsessed nation will hold their collective breath on Wednesday morning and won't relax until they are safely into Sunday's final in Ahmedabad.

Rohit Sharma's side have been absolutely magnificent in this tournament on home shores, went unbeaten throughout the group stages with nine straight wins and were rarely troubled.

However, given the magnitude of the occasion, surely nerves will be on the agenda and in New Zealand (23/10), they face a side who have been their nemesis in recent times, beating India by 18 runs in the World Cup on 2019, before smashing them again in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship two years later.

Kane Williamson's side are the ultimate competitors and what they lack for in talent, they more than make up for in grit and competitive spirit.

The toss could be vital in Mumbai, with most sides batting 2nd going on to struggle, so surely this will be a win toss, bat first decision.

Team news

India will stick with the same team that has won them every game so far and look ridiculously strong throughout.

India (probable): Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

New Zealand also look settled and have no injury issues either.

New Zealand (probable): Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson (capt), Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult.

Rachin Ravindra Top NZ Run Scorer - 7/2

Young Ravindra has been the find of the tournament and is 3rd in the overall run scorer charts on 565 runs, behind only Virat Kohli (see below) and Quinton de Kock.

He has already passed Jonny Bairstow's previous record of runs scored on a World Cup debut and given his talent, will surely be a multi-format cricketer moving forward for the Black Caps.

The 23-year-old was born in Wellington to parents of South Indian origin and this will be an extra-special occasion for the Ravindra family. It's one that I think Rachin can live up to with the bat.

Virat Kohli Player of the match - 13/2

If Ravindra is the future of cricket batting then Virat Kohli is definitely the here and now.

The 35-year-old relinquished the captaincy of the Indian side at the start of last year and his batting has flourished as a direct result.

Kohli tops the run scorer charts with 594 at an average of 99 and is now on 49 ODI hundreds in his magnificent career.

What price would you give me on him making his 50th to win the game for India here and picking up the Player of the Match award in the process?