South Africa

South Africa is the only unbeaten team in this World Cup. It is Aiden Markram's South Africa who have a chance to win the World Cup for the first time, after years of failure. South Africa was nicknamed 'Chokers'. Two years ago, South Africa was limited to runners-up. This time, South Africa has played seven matches and won all seven. That also includes victories against teams like India and West Indies in the Super Eights. 

Strengths: Captain Markram is in form, having scored 268 runs in seven matches. South Africa has a strong batting line-up. It has Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brewis, David Miller and Tristan Stubbs. All of them are experts in big shots. Fast bowler Lungi Ngidi has taken 12 wickets and is bowling a great slow-off cutter. Keshav Maharaj is also no slouch, in his left-arm spin attack. 

Weaknesses: If South Africa has any weaknesses, it can only be mental. South Africa tends to falter towards the end in big tournaments like the World Cup. They have played in the semi-finals of the ODI World Cup five times and the T20 World Cup twice. They barely reached the final in 2024, but were defeated. Despite having 6 wickets in hand, they could not score 26 runs in the last four overs to win and the team eventually lost by 7 runs. 8 players from the last Test Championship winner are also in the current team. 

England

Harry Brooke's team's performance in the group stage was up and down. There was no clear and easy victory. For example, the last-ball victory against Nepal. But when England reached the Super Eight, they found their rhythm. That is why England defeated co-hosts Sri Lanka, Pakistan and New Zealand, and that too with pleasure. 

Strengths: Brooke came third as captain. He also scored a brilliant century against Pakistan. England won by sticking to it. He has proven to be a strategic captain in his first World Cup as captain. All-rounder Will Jacks is also in good form. That is why he has won the 'Player of the Match' award in four of England's seven matches. He has really been attacking with the bat. Jofra Archer, who proved to be a bit expensive in the first two matches, is also playing well. 

Weaknesses: Opener Jos Buttler is currently in the worst form of his playing career. The total runs he has scored in 7 matches are only 62. He has not been able to score a half-century in T20 cricket since September last year. He also seems to lack confidence. But England will not remove their former captain from the team. England are the runners-up in 2010 and 2022.

New Zealand

New Zealand reached the semi-finals by chance because their net run rate was better than Pakistan's. New Zealand was defeated by England in the Super Eights. In the group stage, New Zealand also lost to South Africa in the match in Ahmedabad. In this case, once again New Zealand is facing South Africa. 

Strengths: The biggest strength of the team is that almost all the players are all-rounders. They include the captain, spinner Mitchell Santner. Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra. Similarly, the team has a variety of bowling attacks. For example, Lockie Ferguson's pace and Ish Sodhi's leg spin. In that sense, Santner is lucky. Opener Tim Seifert is an expert in starting the attack and the team's fielding is accurate. 

Weaknesses: Of the four teams that reached the semi-finals, New Zealand is the only one that lacks a player who can win the match on his own. New Zealand is the only team that has lost two matches on the way to the semi-finals, against South Africa and England. New Zealand has lost only Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in the last seven Test matches among its opponents. New Zealand were the runners-up in the 2021 Twenty20 World Cup.

India

Defending champions India have shown the kind of performance they need to make the tournament possible by reaching the Super Eight. India have also won against Zimbabwe and the West Indies in similar matches. In the group stage, India's performance under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav was not commendable. However, India is the strongest candidate for the title on its own soil. In the match against the USA, India had lost 6 wickets at one point until they scored 77 runs. Suryakumar saved the team by scoring 84 runs.

Strengths: Sanju Samson has proven to be India's biggest weapon as a top-order batsman. His performance in the match against the West Indies was excellent. He is more than just a single-handed winner. Jasprit Bumrah has once again proven himself to be a high-level bowler. Varun Chakravarthy has taken 12 wickets with the help of the spin attack. The semi-finals will be held at the Wankhede Stadium. The 35,000 fans there will be the 12th player for India.