ICC World Cup 2023: Slow Pitch Expected For IND vs NZ Semi-Final, India Accused Of Switching Pitch In Wankhede Stadium For High-Voltage Clash

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A slow used pitch is reportedly set to be used for the India vs New Zealand ICC World Cup 2023 semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday (November 15).

According to an Indian Express report, a slow surface is expected for the semi-final clash after the Indian team management asked the BCCI curators to shave off the grass on the Wankhede Stadium pitch.

The report further quotes a Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) official, who confirmed the message was conveyed to prepare a slow track after India's match against Netherlands in Bengaluru. However, the source also added that it won't be a spinning track, but will be on the slower side.

The four World Cup 2023 matches played at the Wankhede Stadium so far have seen a few high-scoring games with the team batting first scoring 350 plus at ease in at least three innings, but the team chasing have struggled to get runs on the board except for one instance when Glenn Maxwell played a stunning knock.

Wankhede Stadium is known as a batters paradise. And the five innings at the venue in the ongoing tournament have been a testament to it. While the slow pitch is one report doing the rounds, there is another on how India have switched the pitch.

India have been accused of switching the pitch for their semi-final clash against New Zealand, according to a report by Daily Mail UK. The report adds that this goes against ICC agreement to aid India's World Class spinners.

The report also states that pitch number 7, a fresh wicket, was supposed to be used for the IND vs NZ semi-final, but now pitch 6, which has already staged games between England and South Africa as well as India and Sri Lanka will be used for the match.

The Daily Mail report stresses that this would aid the Indian spinners, but New Zealand too have a quartet of spinners - Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra in their ranks to trouble any batters. So, this seems to be a baseless accusation.

If the reports are true, both teams may opt for the extra spin option in their line up with Sodhi coming in for the Blackcaps, and India possibly bringing in Ravichandran Ashwin as the third spinning option.