India vs New Zealand semi-final: What happens if ODI World Cup 2023 knockout match gets washed out?

Cricket fans were treated to some exhilarating on-field moments over the past month. As the 2023 ODI World Cup enters its business end, they expect more intense action from their favourite teams and players. At the same time, they will also be concerned about prevailing conditions where rain might spoil the thrills.

Barring a few matches that had to be played in shortened overs, rain has not wreaked havoc on the tournament so far. There is no threat of heavy rain at either of the semi-final venues – Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium and Kolkata’s Eden Gardens. However, this cannot be predicted and should have some sort of additional layer of security in place.

The first semi-final will be played between hosts India and New Zealand on Wednesday, November 15 in Mumbai. South Africa will face Australia in Kolkata on Thursday for the second knockout match. What happens if India vs New Zealand, a repeat of the 2019 edition, gets abandoned? Let’s delve into the scenarios.

What is the extra layer of security?

In a proactive move from the Cricket Governing Body, there will be a reserve day for the knockout matches in case rain plays spoilsport. But what if the reserve day also gets washed out? To confirm the finalists, both teams must play the minimum number of overs required. In that case, the rule is that the team that finishes higher in the points table after the league stage advances to the finals.

That means if the India-New Zealand match is abandoned, Rohit Sharma and his team will automatically advance to the final. Similarly, South Africa will play the final if the second match is washed out. India were the first team to qualify for the semi-finals after winning all of their group matches. South Africa finished second (12 points), while Australia (12 points) on third and New Zealand took the last spot with 10 points.

Weather report for IND vs NZ

According to AccuWeather, Mumbai will experience sunny weather on Wednesday. The minimum temperature is expected to be 26 degrees Celsius and the maximum temperature is expected to be 34 degrees Celsius. The high-octane clash has no threat of rain with 44 per cent humidity in the air at a wind speed of 14 km per hour.