India and New Zealand go head-to-head in the first semi-final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 at Mumbai's iconic Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday (November 15, 2023). On the eve of the match, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson discussed the threat posed by India's batters, especially Suryakumar Yadav, the Kiwi team selection and on his injury problems. (Video: ICC)
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 (upbeat music)
00:02 - We know it's gonna be a really tough challenge.
00:07 They're a side that's been playing extremely well,
00:09 but we also know come finals time,
00:12 everything sort of starts again,
00:14 and it's all about the day.
00:17 So for us as a team,
00:18 it's very much the focus on our cricket again.
00:22 We've played some good cricket throughout.
00:23 We've had a couple of narrow losses
00:25 and a few wins along the way,
00:27 which have put us in this position we were in.
00:29 So we're excited at the challenge here.
00:32 An exceptional player and a great stroke maker.
00:35 Yeah, clearly coming in to play a role
00:39 in that sort of middle, lower order for India
00:42 and has all the shots and knows the venue well.
00:45 So a good player.
00:48 They've got good players throughout.
00:50 So yeah, for us, the focus is on our cricket.
00:54 Yeah, I mean, we have to have a look at the surface.
00:56 Obviously we've a squad of 15 and everybody's fit,
00:58 which is a nice change.
01:00 And yeah, look at the pitch and assess from there.
01:04 I think every game in this tournament is a tricky one.
01:09 I think as we've seen throughout,
01:11 any team can beat anybody on the day
01:13 and whether that's obviously the quality in both sides,
01:16 but also the changing conditions
01:18 and how that has an impact.
01:19 So yeah, I mean, for us,
01:23 it's great to have got to the final stages
01:25 and then take a fresh approach
01:27 'cause it does start again.
01:29 Yeah, I mean, the underdog thing,
01:32 from what you guys write,
01:35 I don't think it has changed too much,
01:37 but that's fine, you know,
01:39 and India have been exceptional.
01:41 One of the, if not the best team going around
01:46 and playing cricket that matches that.
01:48 But we know as well on our day
01:50 when we play our best cricket,
01:52 it certainly gives us the best chance
01:53 and come finals time, anything can happen.
01:55 Yeah, an interesting journey for sure,
01:59 from sort of it not being a chance
02:01 to getting close and it becoming a reality
02:05 and something to target
02:06 and certainly feeling really grateful to be here
02:10 and then to get back and then break my thumb.
02:13 Yeah, it's not funny.
02:16 No, it was quite frustrating and testing,
02:20 but still feeling, you know,
02:22 that it hadn't ruled me out.
02:24 So I still was grateful for that.
02:26 And it's nice to be, you know,
02:30 fitter than perhaps I was yesterday
02:33 and be sitting here.
02:35 So personally, you know, it's great to be here.
02:38 And it's nice to be a part of this tournament.
02:40 These tournaments are special
02:42 and world events in India, you know,
02:45 certainly add to that.
02:46 (upbeat music)
02:49 (upbeat music)
02:51 you