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THE TIMES OF INDIA | Oct 22, 2023, 15:16:46 IST
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IND vs NZ World Cup 2023 Live Updates : Over the past week, the Indian city of Dharamsala received the season’s first snowfall. As television cameras pan out behind the stadium, the Himalayan mountaintops are noticeable in their pristine white glory.
Temperatures are set to rise on Sunday, though, when the only two unbeaten teams at the Cricket World Cup meet. New Zealand and hosts India are 4-0 in the tournament, although the 2019 runners-up New Zealander lead on net run rate.New Zealand began their tournament by beating defending champions England by nine wickets, and then made easy work of the Netherlands (by 99 runs), Bangladesh (by eight wickets) and Afghanistan (by 149 runs).
Those last three wins have come at a canter for the Black Caps, and were never in doubt. The tougher part of their league campaign begins on Sunday, against two-time champions India, followed by Australia, South Africa, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Indeed, India have been steamrolling their opponents. They beat Australia by six wickets, brushed aside Afghanistan by eight wickets, beat archrivals Pakistan by seven wickets and defeated Bangladesh by seven wickets.
Despite the difference in their styles of play, the winning records leave New Zealand and India separated only on that net run-rate — New Zealand’s +1.923 ahead of India’s +1.659.
There is one common denominator — the use of fast bowlers in the middle overs.
New Zealand have used Matt Henry (nine wickets at an average of 18) and Lockie Ferguson (six wickets at 16.66) to good effect. Wrist spinner Ish Sodhi has been unable to get a game.
For India, it is much the same. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah leads the way and has picked 10 wickets in four games at an average of 13.40.
Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the game. He twisted his left ankle while bowling in Pune and has been sent to Bengaluru for rehabilitation. India hopes he will be available for its next game against England on Oct. 29.
Pandya has far better bowling returns (five wickets at 22.6) than Siraj (five wickets at 42.4). But his absence will be a bigger blow because he provides valuable balance to the side with both bat and ball.
Suryakumar Yadav is expected to get a game on Sunday and bat at No. 6. But India’s worry will be balancing out the bowling attack, as none of the top-order batsmen can reliably bowl.
Whether picking bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur or pacer Mohammed Shami, India will only have five bowlers to choose from. It is likely to be inclined towards Shami to have the best chance to bowl 50 overs against an in-form New Zealand batting lineup.
The Black Caps continue to be without skipper Kane Williamson, and Tom Latham will once again be in charge. He has proven to be as inspirational as Williamson at the helm.
India and New Zealand have faced each other nine times in the ODI World Cup. Of these games, India have won only three times while New Zealand have come out victorious on five occasions, with one match being abandoned.
Both India and New Zealand are unbeaten so far in the tournament, registering four wins in as many games but the Kiwis are sitting atop the points table on account of a better net run rate.
So a win on Sunday will take both the sides closer to the semifinals.
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