Steve Harmison, a former England pacer, feels that if Team India hadn’t faced New Zealand in the 2023 World Cup quarterfinal, they would have been happy. After a decisive victory against Sri Lanka, the Kiwis will now play the Men in Blue in the opening semifinal in Mumbai.
In the semifinals four years prior, the Kiwis stopped India cold. According to Steve Harmison, the Blackcaps have the character and are at their best right now to perhaps pull off the feat again.
In an interview with ESPNCricinfo, Steve Harmison discussed New Zealand as follows:
“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
Steve Harmison: India Under Huge Pressure in World Cup
Steve Harmison realizes that the Indian players are accustomed to playing under adversity and under duress. Despite their unblemished record, he believes the strain of ICC knockouts and meeting the Kiwis again will take its toll.
In response, he stated:
“I wouldn’t say they are all in prime form. But on the big stage, India and New Zealand have been here before. All the pressure is now on India. Indian cricketers are used to playing under pressure so I don’t think that will harm them too much. If India had one side they didn’t want to play in the semi-final, it would be New Zealand.”
Steve Harmison
Unless Pakistan does something spectacular against England, New Zealand will face India in a rematch of the 2019 World Cup semifinal, and the hosts will be looking to revenge their loss in Manchester.