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The Indian players took part in an optional practice session in Mumbai ahead of the World Cup 2023 semi-final against New Zealand on Wednesday but some key players, including fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, opted to rest. India played their last match of the league stage in Bengaluru on Sunday and the team arrived here on Monday. In such a situation, only an optional practice session was held for the Indian players on Tuesday. Indian captain Rohit Sharma and in-form star batsman Virat Kohli participated in the practice session.
Kohli practiced on all three nets. First he faced the fast bowler Mohammad Siraj and later the spinner and throw down specialist. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja also took batting practice and then spent ample time with fielding coach T Dileep. Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who has not played in a single match since India’s first match against Australia in the league stage, also bowled long spells. Opener Shubman Gill, Wicketkeeper Batsman KL Rahul and middle order batsmen Shreyas Iyer Didn’t even participate in the practice session.
India have defied all odds in the league stage of the World Cup over the past few weeks to continue their winning streak but Rohit wants to favor his team in the semi-finals as well. “The time has come that fortune favors you and fortune favors the brave,” Rohit told reporters on the eve of the semi-final. Rohit said that just being in the semi-finals, the hosts need to change their mindset and attitude. No major changes need to be made in it.
Rohit said, “If you look, in the first half of the tournament, we chased the target in the first five matches and batted first in the next four matches. We’ve covered most of the areas that we wanted to focus on,” he said. “But as I said before, we know the importance of this week but I don’t think that’s all we’re doing, we Something needs to be done. Different from that.