Renowned commentator Harsha Bhogle feels that New Zealand lacking out on a fifth bowler of their taking part in XI may hinder them within the World Cup semi-final conflict in opposition to India at Wankhede. Bhogle expressed his concern in regards to the lack of depth in New Zealand’s bowling, whereas Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson head up a powerful tempo trio and Mitchell Santner has established himself as an completed spinner, Bhogle questions whether or not the Blackcaps can afford to make an try and acquire 10 overs of bowling from the likes of all-rounders Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra.

“Santner is bowling very well, but do they have a fifth bowler? That could be a weakness and there are a few holes in that side. So many things have gone wrong for New Zealand since they started the World Cup – especially to their endearing popular captain Kane Williamson – so maybe this is the day it will all come right, who knows,” Bhogle mentioned within the ICC Review Podcast.

One factor to ponder is that all through the World Cup, the Kiwis didn’t win a single match in opposition to the opposite three groups which have certified for the semi-final stage. But en path to the 2019 World Cup remaining, the New Zealand group did not win a single match in opposition to the groups that certified for the semi-final however gained in opposition to India.

Bhogle feels the Blackcaps are lacking that “X-Factor” which may have an effect on them and mentioned, “New Zealand have struggled a lot in this tournament and have not beaten a team that has qualified for the semi-final, but they hadn’t in 2019 either. Most of what they have is probably good enough to make the semi-finals and the final and then they need a dash of inspiration at some stage which maybe they have fallen short of over the years. I think they are a top-four (EPL) premiership side. They are probably an Arsenal under (Arsene) Wenger. Enough to come up to a point, but maybe don’t quite have that X-factor.”

India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishan Kishan, Prasidh Krishna, Suryakumar Yadav.

New Zealand squad: Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitch Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Will Young.

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