Cricket World Cup Knockout Stage Unveiled: What You Need to Know

The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 is gearing up for the semi-finals and final, promising cricket enthusiasts three monumental One Day International clashes. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the upcoming showdowns:

Match Schedule:

• Wednesday, November 15 – Semi-Final 1: India vs. New Zealand The host nation takes on the Kiwis in a Mumbai face-off at the Wankhede Stadium, echoing the 2019 World Cup semi-final.
• Thursday, November 16 – Semi-Final 2: South Africa vs. Australia A high-octane clash awaits as big-hitting South Africa meets Australia at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
• Sunday, November 19 – Final The winners of the two semi-finals will lock horns in Ahmedabad.

How the Teams Qualified:

• India: Dominating the group stage, India secured the top spot with a flawless nine-game winning streak, boasting the best net run rate of 2.570.
• South Africa: Despite an early shock loss to the Netherlands, South Africa won seven of their nine matches, earning them a spot in the knockout stage.
• Australia: Recovering from initial defeats, Australia won their remaining seven matches, qualifying with 14 points.
• New Zealand: Securing the final spot, New Zealand’s win over Sri Lanka and Pakistan’s subsequent loss to England propelled them into the semi-finals.

Squads:

• India Squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishan Kishan, Prasidh Krishna, Suryakumar Yadav.
• South Africa Squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Lizaad Williams.
• Australia Squad: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc.
• New Zealand Squad: Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitch Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Will Young.

World Cup Pedigree:

• Tournament hosts India aim for their first major ICC tournament win in 12 years, fueled by home ground advantage.
• South Africa’s men seek a historic first World Cup semi-final after their women’s team reached the final earlier this year.
• Australia, the most successful nation in World Cup history, eyes a sixth triumph.
• New Zealand, consistent knockout stage qualifiers, aims to overcome past final defeats.

Reserve Days: In case of weather disruptions, both semi-finals and the final have allocated reserve days.

Prize Money: An impressive US$10 million is up for grabs in the tournament. The winners will pocket US$4 million, with runners-up receiving US$2 million. Teams earn US$40,000 for every group stage win.

Venues:

• Semi-Final 1: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai The historic venue that hosted the 2011 World Cup final promises a pivotal role with its distinct red-soil pitch.
• Semi-Final 2: Eden Gardens, Kolkata Known for its lively pitch and breezy conditions, Eden Gardens, before the renovation of Narendra Modi Stadium, held the title for the largest venue in India.
• Final: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad The largest sports stadium globally, hosting the tournament final after its redevelopment in 2021. It witnessed India’s win over Pakistan and the last two IPL finals.

Cricket enthusiasts are in for a thrilling culmination to the World Cup with these epic encounters on the horizon.