World Cup 2023: If Rohit Sharma gets going, India will semis vs New Zealand, says Dinesh Karthik

India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik has no doubt that New Zealand would be keen on dismissing Rohit Sharma as early as possible in the semi-final of the 2023 World Cup, scheduled for Wednesday, saying that the India captain is the biggest scalp for the BlackCaps.

India are all set to take on New Zealand in the first semi-final of the World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Rohit Sharma’s home ground. India stormed into the semi-finals with an unbeaten run in the league stage, winning all their 9 matches while New Zealand sneaked through at the 4th spot in the points table.

However, previous results will not matter much when India goes up against New Zealand, who have been their biggest hurdle in ICC knockout matches in the recent past, having lost to them in the semi-final of the 2019 World Cup and the World Test Championship final in 2021.

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India, nonetheless, are heading into the semi-finals with a lot of confidence. The hosts have been ruthless with both bat and ball and most of it has come from the captain, who has looked to dominate the opposition’s bowling attacks from the word go.

Rohit took on the New Zealand quicks in their 4-wicket win in the league meeting in Dharamsala, smashing a quickfire 45. Rohit has scored 503 runs in the World Cup at a strike rate of 121 as he gone about setting solid platforms for India with his calculated aggression at the top.

“If there is one player I don’t doubt who will do exactly what he has done so far in the tournament, it is Rohit Sharma. For me, he is the biggest wicket New Zealand will look to take. If he gets going, take it in writing from me that Team India will win the semi-finals,” Dinesh Karthik told Cricbuzz.

‘EMBRACE THE PRESSURE’

Notably, Karthik was part of the XI when India lost the 2019 World Cup semi-finals to New Zealand in Manchester. Chasing 240 on the reserve day of the semi-final, India were reduced to 3 for 5 as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul were all dismissed early.

Dinesh Karthik was out for 6 as India slipped to 24 for 4 and then 71 for 5 before losing the semi-final by 18 runs. Ravindra Jadeja’s 77 and MS Dhoni’s 50 were not enough as India crumbled under pressure.

Since then, India have lost in the semi-final of a T20 World Cup once and the final of the World Test Championship twice. However, Karthik feels India are better equipped to deal with the semi-final hurdle this time.

“It’s been a great tournament so far, but knockout games are obviously something very, very different. The pressure is different.””We have seen how well India have played. All I want them to do is embrace the pressure. It is going to be a packed house in Bombay full of blue, and I’m sure they’ll relish it and put up yet another superb performance,” he added.