Cricket World Cup 2023: What will happen if India’s semi-final clash gets washed out? 

The ICC has kept a reserve day for both the semi-finals in case they are interrupted by rain.

Cricket World Cup 2023: What will happen if India’s semi-final clash gets washed out? 

Wankhede Stadium will be hosting the first semi-final on 15th November (Image via ESPN)

India were the first team to qualify for the first semi-final of the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup. They will most probably play New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on 15th November. The two teams faced each other in the 2019 World Cup semi-finals as well, where the game was disturbed by rain. Although there is low chances of rain in Mumbai, what would happen if the game gets washed out? 

Despite the low chances of rain, the ICC had already kept a reserve day for the day after the semi-final. If the game is hit by rain and unable to continue on that very day, it will be continued on the reserve day. This was the same situation in the 2019 World Cup, where New Zealand could only bat 46.1 overs before the rain interrupted the game. The game was continued the next day, where the Kiwis completed their innings and India batted. 

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If the reserve day is also washed out, the team with the most points would continue for the finals. In this case, it would be India who have 16 points in the 8 games they have played . New Zealand have already played their 9 matches of the group stages, winning 10 points. This will be the same situation for the 2nd semi-final, where South Africa face Australia.

Ex-England star believes New Zealand is the team India don’t want to face 

India are the only team to have not lost a single match so far in the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup. With one game left against associate nation Netherlands, it looks like India would continue this incredible run. Despite India being in such great form, Ex-English pacer Steve Harmison believes India would dread to face the Kiwis. 

MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni is run out by an amazing throw by Martin Guptill (Image via ESPN)

While covering the World Cup for ESPNcricinfo, Harmison said with the Kiwis finally getting back in form and all their players returning from injury, New Zealand could be one team India don’t want to face. 

A quality side like New Zealand, you can never write them off. Out of the three teams that are in the semi-finals with India, I've got a funny feeling that they are the one team that India wouldn't want to play because they have character. They are all coming back to fitness.
Steve Harmison to ESPNcricinfo.

Harmison believes the pressure is now on India, but it won’t harm them as they have been in that position. He still thinks the Kiwis is the last team India would want to face, due to their head to head records in ICC events. 

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