In the 21st match of the ICC World Cup 2023, India is set to face New Zealand. Both teams have been performing exceptionally well and are the only ones in the tournament that have not yet suffered a loss. India, led by captain Rohit Sharma, has been in terrific form, delivering impressive wins in every match. Their batting and bowling units have shown great composure.
New Zealand, despite missing their skipper Kane Williamson, started with a strong victory over England and has continued to perform convincingly. The rivalry between these two teams has intensified in recent years, with New Zealand defeating India in the 2019 World Cup semi-final and the World Test Championship final.
On the points table, both India and New Zealand have won four matches, securing 8 points each. However, New Zealand leads the table due to a superior net run rate of +1.923 compared to India’s +1.659. If India wins this crucial match, they could move to the top of the points table.
India has consistently batted second in this tournament, whether they win or lose the toss. Opposition teams often choose to bat first, hoping to set a target for India’s strong batting lineup. However, India’s bowlers have restricted these teams to below-par totals, which their batsmen have comfortably chased down.
In this match, Indian pacer Mohammed Shami is expected to make his first appearance in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, replacing Shardul Thakur. Surya Kumar Yadav is also likely to make his World Cup debut in place of the all-rounder Hardik Pandya.
Pitch Report
Dinesh Karthik suggests that the pitch in Dharamshala lacks live grass and could be on the slower side. While the fast bowlers have had an advantage at the HPCA stadium, today’s conditions might favor spinners.
Playing 11
The playing 11s for both teams are as follows:
New Zealand:
- Devon Conway
- Will Young
- Rachin Ravindra
- Daryl Mitchell
- Tom Latham (wk) (c)
- Glenn Phillips
- Mark Chapman
- Mitchell Santner
- Matt Henry
- Lockie Ferguson
- Trent Boult
India:
- Rohit Sharma (c)
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- KL Rahul (wk)
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Mohammed Shami
- Mohammed Siraj
India has won the toss and elected to bowl first.
Indeed, the contest between India and New Zealand promises to be intriguing and unpredictable. India’s opening pair, whether it’s Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill or Ishan Kishan, has been formidable in the powerplay, setting the tone for India’s innings. Rohit’s aggressive approach has often left opposition bowlers reeling during the early stages, leading to significant advantages for India.
On the other hand, New Zealand’s strength has been their bowlers, particularly Matt Henry, who has excelled in the powerplay. This contrast in styles between India’s explosive batting and New Zealand’s bowling prowess, especially in the early overs, sets the stage for a fascinating battle. The outcome of this match could be heavily influenced by how well India’s top order tackles New Zealand’s new ball attack, and how effectively New Zealand’s bowlers can contain India’s formidable batting lineup.
