Xtra Time Web Desk: Team India coaching staffs including Rahul Dravid, batting coach Vikram Rathour and bowling coach Paras Mhambrey wasted no time to rush to the Wankhede stadium immediately after landing in Mumbai from Bengaluru. The trio were observing the wicket ahead of Wednesday’s first semi final of the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 against New Zealand.
All three of them were seen having a close look at the wicket. It is learnt the first semi final will be played on the same pitch on which Glenn Maxwell scored that epic 201* against Afghanistan.
Notably, this has been a practice by Dravid and his teammates to inspect the wicket ahead of game day in the ongoing tournament. A similar sight was at Eden Gardens in Kolkata last week when Dravid headed straight to the stadium to have a look at the pitch after landing in Kolkata two days ahead of game against South Africa.
Dravid was seen talking to the pitch curator while looking at the surface. The Wankhede pitch is set to provide a batting paradise in the semi-final. So far in all the four World Cup matches that has been played so far in Mumbai have been high-scoring games.
However, pacers are likely to get some assistance under the lights as wasevident during India’s game against Sri Lanka. The Lankan batters struggled against the Indian pace trio of Shami, Bumrah and Siraj, getting bundled out for 55 runs.