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New Zealand will continue to be a typical response
when asking an avid Indian cricket fan who their second-favorite cricket team
is. The same group of supporters would respond unanimously when asked which
team at ICC events scares them the most: New Zealand. you ask why.
Southampton in 2021. Dubai 2021 and Nagpur 2016. Manchester in 2019.
The majority of Indian fans certainly cringe when they
think back to the previous game here. India’s bogey team over the years has
been New Zealand, despite their best efforts to deny it. There are statistics to
support this. With the exception of the WTC finals from the 2019–21 and 2021–23
cycles, India has only defeated New Zealand once in nine attempts in all ICC
competitions since 1992.
It will therefore be more than just another group
stage match when these two teams square off in Dharamsala on Sunday since some
historical significance will be at stake. Additionally, one team won’t be the
only one still unbeaten in the competition after the match.
The Dharamsala stadium is as much about the
breathtaking snow-capped Dhauladhar range in the background as it is about the
altitude. Along with that altitude, assistance for the quicks also arrives.
Dharamsala and Lucknow, out of all the locations that have so far hosted more
than one World Cup game, have provided the fast bowlers with the most swing in
the opening ten overs of each innings.
Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah play a crucial role
in the Indian assault. Although Mohammed Shami is one bowler who is certain to
get early movement with that vertical seam, they will miss Hardik Pandya.
The New Zealand unit has been equally strong, even
though India’s attack appears to be more well-rounded. With all of Matt Henry,
Trent Boult, and Lockie Ferguson having strong tournament starts, their class
of 2019 is still mostly intact. With 11 strikes at 15.09, Mitchell Santner is
the top wicket-taker in the spin department.
Both teams’ batters have been in excellent shape. On
the run charts, Devon Conway, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli are ranked Nos. 2,
3, and 4, respectively, while the middle order has also been producing. With
the ball hooping around, will they be able to make a significant score?