Fans offer prayers for India's victory in WC semi-final match against New Zealand

Madurai: Several cricket fans offered prayers for India's victory in the upcoming World Cup semi-final clash against New Zealand on Wednesday.

Fans included members of the Madurai Jallikattu Rotary Club.

"A special prayer was held in Madurai for the victory of the Indian team in the semi-final match. The fans' prayers are filled with hope, optimism, and a deep sense of patriotism, as they wish for the Indian team to emerge victorious and make the nation proud," said Ballu, Madurai Jallikattu Rotary Club's president, on Tuesday.

"We have trust in the Indian team that they will win the match," he added.

Meanwhile, actor Rajinikanth left for Mumbai from Chennai airport on Tuesday to watch the ICC Cricket World Cup semi-final scheduled to be played at Wankhede Stadium.

"I am going to see the match," Rajinikanth told reporters in a brief reply at the airport.

India will take on New Zealand in the first semifinal of the ICC Cricket World Cup at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on Wednesday. While the Kiwis will be aiming to reach their third successive World Cup final after 2015 and 2019, India will be looking forward to overcoming the knockout hurdle that has not let them win a major ICC title since 2013 and that too against a team that has given them the most trouble in must-win matches.

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.