Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai Pitch Report & Weather Forecast for IND vs NZ ICC ODI World Cup 2023 Semi-Final

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Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai will stage it's fifth and final match of the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023 on Wednesday (November 15) when unbeaten hosts India face New Zealand in the first semi-final of the tournament.

Rohit Sharma's Team India will look to carry on their momentum following their ninth consecutive win, while Kane Williamson's New Zealand will look to avenge the loss from earlier in the league phase and repeat what they did in the 2019 semi-final.

The Men in Blue, who bettered their record of most wins in a single World Cup by extending their streak to nine with the most recent outing being a 160-run victory over Netherlands on a batter's paradise at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

New Zealand, on the other hand, registered a crucial win that sealed their semi-final berth when they beat Sri Lanka by 5 wickets on a little challenging wicket at the same venue in Bengaluru, where there has been a mix of wickets used so far.

Weather has affected New Zealand's clash against Pakistan in Bengaluru, where rain stopped play several times, leading to reduction of over, while one of India's match also has been interrupted by mist without having any effect on the game.

None of that has disturbed play in Mumbai so far. However, with parts of the country witnessing showers due to the retreating monsoon, we take a look if rain will play spoilsport? Or will dew be a factor in the match?

Also the batting friendly wicket at Wankhede Stadium saw Sri Lanka crumble for 55 and Australia being reduced to 91/7. So, here is a look at the weather forecast and pitch report for IND vs NZ ICC World Cup 2023 semi-final match:

Mumbai Weather Forecast on November 15

There is no threat of rain in Mumbai on Wednesday (November 15) or in the lead up to match. It is expected to be a very warm day with hazy sunshine and moonlight. The temperature is expected to touch 36° C in the afternoon and reduce to 30° C in the night.

Weather Channel, meanwhile, forecasts a clear day, but with no chance of rain with a maximum temperature of 34° C in the afternoon, and 31° C at the closing stages. So, rain is unlikely to play spoilsport in the IND vs NZ semi-final match in Mumbai.

While there is no rain, there is a possibility of smoke and haze causing visibility issues. Also, there is chance for dew, which could be a factor in the later stages of the second innings in Mumbai, meaning the team chasing may have an extra advantage. Then, how is the Mumbai wicket going to play?

Wankhede Stadium pitch report for IND vs NZ World Cup match

Four of the 13 red soil strips at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai have been selected by the ICC for the five World Cup 2023 matches, including the semifinal. The venue has been known to provide some assistance for quicks with the new ball, but has mostly been batting friendly.

The first World Cup 2023 match was just an example of why the Wankhede Stadium is called a batter's paradise as South Africa posted the second highest total at the venue, where they also hold the record for the highest total, which they scored eight years ago against India.

In the second match, Proteas continued their carnage with the bat with Bangladesh being the victims this time. South Africa posted 382/5 before their pacers used conditions under lights to bundle out Bangladesh for 233.

In the third match, India posted 357 before the pacers found some joy bowling under lights with some swing and skid to bundle out Sri Lanka for 55 All Out inside 20 overs.

The most recent match also saw Australia top order fall to the moving ball under lights in their run chase of 292 against Afghanistan. But a Glenn Maxwell knock proved how the shorter boundaries can be cleared with ease and how batting gets easy after the first 10 overs.

While the wickets used at the World Cup so far have seen high-scoring games, reports suggest the pitch used for the semi-final will be a slow one that will bring spinners into play.

The average first innings score in the 27 ODIs hosted by the venue is 261. Two of the last five matches at the venue have ended in favour of the team chasing, while the team batting first have won three times when posting 350 plus.

Overall, the teams batting first hold the edge of 14-13 over teams chasing at this venue. But, teams will be tempted to chase especially with the dew factor in mind. However, with the pace bowlers expected to find joy under lights, teams may be tempted to bat first and add scoreboard pressure.