World Cup 2015: New Zealand not lucky for India?

Cricket matches being sold out four days in advance is a rarity in New Zealand. But that's exactly what has happened for the Eden Park clash between Australia and New Zealand on February 28.
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There's a huge anticipation around the game; 'Come on Black Caps' is the catch phrase wherever you go. This game is likely to decide the winner of Group A and there's an added incentive ­ the winner of this game may end up avoiding India in the semifinals.
After stunning wins in the first two games, India are suddenly being seen as one of the favorites and the belief that's gaining ground is that Dhoni's boys will top Group B, beat England or Bangladesh in the quarterfinals and will play the second-placed team of Group A in the semifinals.
The first semifinal on March 24 is at Eden Park while the second is at Sydney Cricket Ground two days later. Auckland has a huge Indian population but the die-hard fans are hoping that the Men in Blue don't end up playing the knock-out game here. "New Zealand is not good for India. They struggle here. India didn't win a single game in New Zealand last year. And these New Zealand players know how to use these short, straight boundaries at Eden Park," Sandeep Verma, an Auckland taxi driver, said while driving down to the ground.
India, however, tied an ODI in Auckland last year, with Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin playing a major role.
"We were about to leave when the turnaround happened and that was miraculous. We have seen India struggle so many times here. India will play Zimbabwe here in a group game and we'll go and enjoy. But let them play the semifinal in Australia and make the final," Gurdev Singh, another Indian working in Auckland, said. But Devi Dutt, who runs an Indian restaurant, Mangal, just opposite the Eden Park, gets angry when told about the desire of Indian fans to avoid the semifinal in Auckland.
"Pagal hain sab, imagine the business I will get if India play the semifinal here. And if you have to win the World Cup, you have to beat every team. How can you say Australia at home is easier than New Zealand at home?" Dutt argued. For now, it's over to Saturday's game, the outcome of which will give an indication of what's in store for India.
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