Be ready to witness a thrilling contest when the two most dominant teams of this world cup season India and New Zealand face off on October 22, 2023, in Dharamshala. This encounter will be a defining moment in the 2023 World Cup as both of them have remained undefeated so far.
When it comes to ICC events, the battle between India and New Zealand has been nothing short of intense. Who can forget the heart-stopping 2019 World Cup semi-final and the thrilling 2021 World Test Championship final? The Kiwis have consistently proven to be India’s biggest hurdle in their quest for ICC glory.
In the World Cup, these two teams have crossed paths on nine occasions. New Zealand holds a slight edge, having emerged victorious in five encounters and India has clinched victory in three matches, while one match got abandoned.
The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the world will be watching to see which of these two teams can maintain their unbeaten status and seize control of the tournament.
Team Preview
India
Widely considered the favourites for this World Cup, India is having a dream tournament run. They have a perfect record, securing comfortable wins in all four of their matches and currently holding the second position in the points table. This remarkable performance reflects the team’s dominant form and their hunger to end the 10-year ICC trophy drought.
The star players are currently in their prime form. Rohit Sharma, the captain and opener, is leading the chart of run-scorers, showing why he’s considered one of the best in the world. Virat Kohli, the batting maestro is also no less and just behind him showing his consistency. Bumrah’s excellence in the bowling department also has played major role in India’s success.
This match holds a special place in the hearts of Indian fans as it provides an opportunity for redemption. The wounds of the 2019 World Cup semi-final loss to New Zealand are still fresh in the memory of many. India will be eager to exorcise those demons and serve a measure of revenge on the Kiwis.
New Zealand
The Kiwis have emerged as the team to beat in the 2023 World Cup. With a perfect record of four wins out of four matches, and all of them secured by significant margins, they are perched comfortably at the top of the points table with a high run rate. They have completely dominated the tournament so far.
One of the hallmarks of the Kiwis’ journey in this tournament has been their versatility. They have secured victories both while chasing and while setting targets, underlining their adaptability and the depth of their talent pool. All of their matches were one-sided and the opponents didn’t get a single opportunity to turn the odds.
Despite missing their captain, Kane Williamson, the Kiwi team has displayed remarkable dominance. In the bowling department, Mitchell Santner and Matt Henry are in great form and have been topping the bowling charts. Their ‘Mr. Consistent’ Devon Conway is also no less and is currently the third-highest run-scorer in the tournament.
Probable Playing XI
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Suryakumar Yadav/Ishan Kishan, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami/Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
New Zealand: Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham(c)(wk), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult
Pitch Report
The HPCA Stadium has hosted three matches so far in the ongoing World Cup. Two of them have been won batting first, except for the low-scoring encounter of Afghanistan and Bangladesh. This shows batting first and defending the target is comparatively easier for teams on this pitch.
For the top-order batsmen, it is of utmost importance to exercise caution and not squander their wickets carelessly in Dharamshala. The early overs can be tricky for batting, demanding patience and careful shot selection. Indian batters have to be highly careful in the initial overs as they have a record of getting crumbled early against the Kiwis.
While the pitch in Dharamshala favours fast bowlers early on, it transforms into a batsman-friendly surface as the game progresses. The high altitude of this venue ensures that the ball comes onto the bat smoothly, allowing batsmen to time their shots to perfection. The relatively small boundaries of the ground often lead to high-scoring encounters.
Players To Watch Out For
Shubhman Gill
As India continues its quest for World Cup glory, the spotlight now turns to the rising star of their top order, Shubman Gill. With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli already delivering match-winning performances, the time has come for the third pillar of India’s top order to shine and steer India to victory.
Shubman Gill’s journey in this World Cup has been a tale of resurgence. After missing the initial two matches, he had a slow start, but in the recent encounter against Bangladesh, Gill displayed his class by notching up a composed 52. This innings will give him the confidence he needs to create memorable knocks in his inaugural World Cup.
In eight matches against New Zealand, Gill has accumulated a total of 484 runs at a remarkable strike rate of 110. His double century also came against New Zealand but it was against a comparatively weaker side. Now, all eyes will be on whether Gill can replicate this dominance on the grand stage of the World Cup.
Jasprit Bumrah
The Indian speedster has been the backbone of India’s pace attack across all formats for several years, and he’s proving it once again in the 2023 World Cup. In the four matches played so far, he has scalped an impressive 10 wickets. What sets Bumrah apart is not just his ability to strike, but also his remarkable economy rate of 3.62.
Bumrah’s effectiveness in the final overs has consistently proven to be crucial for Team India in this World Cup. His crucial wickets in that phase saved those valuable 20-25 runs for the team at the end. His pinpoint yorkers, lethal bouncers, and ability to bowl variations make him a nightmare for batsmen during the closing stages of an innings.
Bumrah will once again play a pivotal role. Leading the Indian pace attack, he’ll be entrusted with the responsibility of extracting swing and providing those early breakthroughs in the powerplay. Troubling the in-form top order of the Kiwis will be essential to India’s game plan, and Bumrah’s ability to make the new ball talk will be a key factor.
Tom Latham
The upcoming match against the favourites, India, presents a challenging yet important test of Latham’s captaincy skills. His leadership will be under scrutiny as he aims to guide the Kiwis to victory in this high-stakes encounter. His ability to make tactical decisions and stay composed under pressure will play a critical role in the outcome of the match.
Also if New Zealand’s top order faces adversity, the onus will fall on Tom Latham to step up and lead by example with the bat. Interestingly, Latham has shown a liking for encounters against India, having amassed 871 runs against them at an impressive average of 54.5 and a strike rate of 95.
In the ongoing World Cup, Latham has already demonstrated his batting ability by notching up two fifties in the two innings he got to bat. His consistency in this tournament indicates that he is in good form and could be on the cusp of playing a match-winning innings. All eyes will be on him, both as a captain and a crucial contributor with the bat
Matt Henry
Matt Henry has been instrumental in New Zealand’s impeccable performance in the 2023 World Cup. His ability to pick wickets consistently and maintain control in crucial moments has played a pivotal role in the Kiwis’ unbeaten run. He is not just a wicket-taker but a pressure-builder, forcing errors from the opposition.
Henry’s performance in the 2023 World Cup is nothing short of remarkable. He has showcased his wicket-taking ability with a total of 9 wickets in just four matches. What’s equally impressive is his economy rate, which stands at 4.89.
In nine matches against India, Henry has picked up an impressive 15 wickets at a miserly economy rate of 4.2. No one can forget his performance in the 2019 World Cup semi-final against India. His spectacular spell was a major factor in New Zealand’s victory on that day, and he was deservedly awarded the Man of the Match.
IND vs NZ Dream11 Team for Match 21 of 2023 WC
Note: This is not our final Dream11 Team as we are not aware of the Toss Result/Final Playing XI of both teams at this moment.
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