There remains a heavy cloud cover but despite rain threats looming, the toss took place at the scheduled time.

It has also been drizzling since the morning in the city, throwing doubts over the second semifinal today.

It was never in doubt, and probably only a matter of when than if for star India batter Virat Kohli, who now occupies the highest pedal in ODI cricket.

India legend Sunil Gavaskar lashed out at critics who claimed that the pitch of the first World Cup semifinal between hosts India and New Zealand had been changed without the consent of the ICC and at the behest of the BCCI.

While South Africa insist they will not be burdened by scarring from their chequered record in World Cup knockout matches, Australia are counting on having experienced World Cup winners giving them a boost when the two old rivals face off in a much-anticipated semifinal in Kolkata on Thursday.

"A lot of people believe that this could be the year that we see ourselves in the final," Bavuma, who remains doubtful to play the semi-final due his hamstring injury, told reporters.

India, who Williamson described as a "blue machine", defeated his side by 70 runs in Mumbai on Wednesday to reach the World Cup final.

The World Cup semifinal between India and New Zealand in Mumbai on Wednesday was being played on a used pitch, sparking concerns the tournament hosts had tried to manipulate conditions in their favour.

India’s Virat Kohli struck a record 50th hundred and fast bowler Mohammed Shami’s seven-wicket haul proved equally crucial as the unbeaten hosts overpowered New Zealand by 70 runs in a high-scoring match yesterday to march into the World Cup final.

Mitchell came in with New Zealand 39-2, chasing a huge target of 398 at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday.

It probably would not have happened in any case, but even so, India were getting perilously close to winning the hearts of neutrals. Then Goliath did as Goliath does. A superpower superpowered.

Kohli said he was over-joyed to achieve the record in front of his wife, Anushka Sharma, and Tendulkar

"The first time I met you in the Indian dressing room, you were pranked by other teammates into touching my feet. I couldn't stop laughing that day," Tendulkar wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Shreyas Iyer's blistering 105, which came off just 70 balls and was studded with four fours and eight sixes, provided the late fireworks for India's innings.

England’s former captain Michael Vaughan has shared his view on the ongoing pitch controversy in the World Cup.

He did so on his former India team-mate's home ground, with batting great Tendulkar among those applauding at the Wankhede Stadium.

In the middle of the 23rd over, after managing a single, Gill went down and had to receive treatment. He scored 79 off 65 balls.

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson commented at the toss of the first semi-final against India that the pitch was a used one. The pitch being used has come under controversy following reports that the BCCI has switched the pre-agreed upon pitch.

Following controversy that BCCI has changed the pitch for the semi-final game between India and New Zealand in Mumbai today without the permission of the ICC, the matter became the talking point among the other two semi-finalists Australia and South Africa ahead of the second semi-final in Kolkata.

India captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and chose to bat first after reports emerged hours before the first semfiinal that the local authities switched the pitch from the one originally prescribed by the ICC.