Time and again, New Zealand have proved that they are one of the toughest opponents for India in ICC tournaments, with the World Test Championship (WTC) final in June. India have beaten every challenging opposition team in ICC events over the past decade, but they have failed to solve the mystery of the Black Caps.
The Kiwis are not dependent on individual talent, they hunt together and always punch above their weight in ICC tournaments. He has a consistent record in ICC events and a place in the last four cannot be ruled out.
India’s seven-wicket win in the 2003 World Cup Sourav Ganguly The last time he defeated the Kiwis in an ICC tournament. Since then India have lost every match to the Black Caps in ICC events and this time too it will not be an easy task for the Men-in-Blue.
Last five meetings:
2021 World Test Championship Finals: New Zealand beat India by 8 wickets in Southampton.
2019 World Cup Semi-Finals: New Zealand beat India by 18 runs in Manchester.
2016 T20 World Cup: New Zealand beat India by 47 runs in Nagpur.
2007 T20 World Cup: New Zealand beat India by 10 runs in Johannesburg.
2003 World Cup: In Centurion, India beat New Zealand by 7 wickets.
New Zealand also holds an edge over India in all T20Is. In 16 meetings, it has set an 8-6 (win-lose) record over India – the success rate of 56.25 is the best for any nation in the format against the Men in Blue.
Challenges: In the first match of the ongoing T20 World Cup, a fiery opening spell from Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi blew up India’s top order and New Zealand also have tall pacers – Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson and Kyle Jamieson, who can swing the ball in the powerplay overs. India’s Top 3 Featuring KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Swing and deadly speed have to be tackled carefully to win the battle against Kiwi.
The top-order failure meant that the Indian batsmen could not face Pakistan’s spinners – Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan and Mohammad Hafeez – during the middle overs and the likes of Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santer were also likely to give the ‘Men in Blue’ freebies. Not there. .
In bowling too, the modest performances of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami and Ravindra Jadeja against Pakistan do not give much confidence. But, Shardul Thakur, who has been in red-hot form and the inclusion of R Ashwin, could spell something new for India when they turn to the Black Caps batting line up featuring Martin Guptill, Tim Seifert, Kane Williamson, Devon Conway and others. encounter.
road ahead: Though the current Indian team has taken everyone by surprise with their poor performances from time to time over the years, they have also shown that they have the potential to come back strongly. Be it against Australia or against England, this Indian team has made a spectacular comeback whenever his ability has been questioned.
It will be challenging enough but Virat Kohli’s brigade has the talent and ability to pass a definite litmus test over Kane Williamson’s boys.
Six Teams: New Zealand, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Scotland and Namibia are placed in Group 2 and the top two teams will advance to the semi-finals. Qualifying for the last four in Group 2 could be interesting if India fails to beat New Zealand.
In the T20 format, any team can beat others on their assigned day and India certainly wouldn’t want to take any side lightly, especially after suffering a humiliating 10-wicket defeat against arch-rivals Pakistan.
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