New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell and captain Mitchell Santner. Photo / AFP
The Black Caps have been in India for almost two months but they’re hoping to extend their stay with victory over South Africa in Thursday’s Twenty20 World Cup semifinal.
The Black Caps’ spot in the final four wasn’t confirmed until Sri Lanka lost to Pakistan by a small enough margin to see New Zealand advance on net-run-rate.
“There was a few of us in the skipper’s room watching it,” said Daryl Mitchell today.
“Guys have different ways of dealing with the nervousness of waiting to see what would happen. It’s all done now. We’re excited to be in the semis and looking forward to it.”
The Black Caps played all their initial group games in India before moving to Sri Lanka for the Super Eight stage.
They have settled in Kolkata for the semifinal clash between two sides desperate to end white-ball tournament droughts.
South Africa and the Black Caps have similar records in ICC tournaments, having both won the World Test Championship.
However, they are yet to lift an ODI or T20 World Cup trophy.
South Africa have made the semifinal stage three times previously, advancing to the final two years ago before losing to India in Bridgetown.
The Black Caps have also reached the T20 final just once, beaten by Australia in 2021.
The two sides squared off in pool play in Ahmedabad where the Proteas chased down the 176-run target with 17 balls remaining.
Mitchell, with Glenn Phillips, Devon Conway and Kyle Jamieson, played in the opening ODI against India on January 11.
It was the first of three ODIs and five T20s against the home side in the lead-up to the tournament which has now stretched into March.
Lose, and the Black Caps head home to prepare for a five-match series against their semifinal opponents.
The likes of Rachin Ravindra, Finn Allen, Mitchell Santner and Phillips are also playing in the Indian Premier League later this month.
However, Mitchell was not retained by the Chennai Super Kings - now he has a chance to prove that was the wrong decision.
Mitchell found his form early in the tour with 352 runs and two centuries in the ODIs.
He has scored just 63 runs from seven innings in this World Cup but semifinals have been his time to shine at previous tournaments.
He top scored for NZ at their last two T20 semifinal appearances, including leading the side to the 2021 final.
“We’ve spent a bit of time here in India in the last two months, and I guess we know what conditions we’ll be coming up with. They’ll be different to what we’ve experienced in the last fortnight in Sri Lanka.
“The guys will trust the preparation that we’ve had over the last few months and just looking forward to getting stuck in,” Mitchell said.
“Obviously the Sri Lankan surfaces were a lot slower and a lot lower and it got quite difficult towards the back end of the innings, where Kolkata traditionally is a nice ground, it’s an incredible history of Eden Gardens.
“[We are] looking forward to playing in front of a packed-out crowd.”
Mitchell said the Black Caps were keeping it pretty simple in the lead-up to the semifinal.
“We’re pretty clear how we want to operate as Black Caps and it’s both on and off the field. We don’t make things bigger than what they are, but we’re also very excited to be in this position and know how lucky we are to be here in the semifinals.”
Mitchell said the side was “looking forward to getting stuck into the contest”.
“Trying to win little moments is something that we constantly speak about and hopefully that means we’re heading off to a final in a few days’ time.
“They’ve been one of the best teams in the comp for a reason, and they are where they are ... both teams are doing everything they can to try and move on to the next stage. It’s just going to be really cool to get into a full crowd at Eden Gardens. It’s always pretty special.”
2007 - Lost to Pakistan
After finishing second in the Super Eight group stage, the Black Caps faced Pakistan in Cape Town. NZ made 143 for eight with Ross Taylor making 37 not out. Umar Gul took 3-15 as Pakistan won by six wickets with seven balls remaining.
India beat Pakistan in the final.
2016 - Lost to England
After four straight tournaments failing to get out of the Super stage, the Black Caps made the final four again after beating India, Australia, Pakistan and Bangladesh in group play. Batting first in Delhi, the Black Caps made 153 for eight but England chased it down with ease, winning in the 18th over. Jason Roy smashing 78 from 44.
West Indies beat England in the final.
2021 - Beat England
Chasing 166 for victory, NZ lost Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson in the first three overs before Mitchell led the Black Caps into the first T20 World Cup final with 72 from 47 balls in Abu Dhabi to win by five wickets.
The Black Caps lost the final to Australia by eight wickets.
2022 - Lost to Pakistan
Batting first, the Black Caps again lost early wickets with Finn Allen, Devon Conway and Glenn Phillips gone by the end of the eighth over. Williamson and Mitchell (53 from 35) put on 68 runs as NZ made 152 for four. But Pakistan chased it down with five balls remaining, set up with an opening stand of 105.
England beat Pakistan by five wickets in the final.
Cameron McMillan has been a sports journalist since 2003 and is NZME’s Deputy Head of Sport.