Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir couldn’t help but draw a parallel between the India-New Zealand semifinal clash and India’s semifinal against Pakistan in the 2011 World Cup edition.
In his column for the Times of India, Gambhir wrote, “As I sat down to write the preview of India’s semifinal game against New Zealand, my mind rushed back to the 2011 World Cup. Eight years ago, we were playing a World Cup semifinal against Pakistan. The venue was Mohali, one of my favourite places to play cricket. I remember the match eve vividly. We were staying at Hotel Taj in Chandigarh\
India have suffered just one defeat at this World Cup so far, against England, and topped the 10-team group table.
“I have always believed that if you want to win a multi-nation tournament, you must beat Australia. Back in 2011, we had beaten the Aussies in the quarterfinals. It was a big deal as the Ricky Ponting-led side was extremely formidable. The semifinals against Pakistan was a relatively easier game for us. I think in 2019, the same logic holds good. India has beaten Australia in the league phase and have their tail up by finishing at the top of the table. India has come riding on a winning streak and it is a no-brainer that they have momentum on their side,” Gambhir added.
