World ODI Cup 2023

IND vs NZ: Match 21

Preview 

It’s time for the clash of the Titans in the Cricket World Cup 2023 when the Hosts India set to square off against Blackcaps in the 21st match of the tournament in a mouth-watering clash on a Super Sunday(22nd October 2023). Both sides are the only unbeaten teams in the tournament so far, having played four games and won four. Tom Latham-led NZ is at the No.1 spot with a net run rate of 1.923 followed closely by Rohit Sharma-led India who also boasts an impressive NRR of 1.659. One of these sides two will end their unbeaten streak at Dharamsala this Sunday. Who will it be? NZ has had the better of IND in World Cups, but India will have the edge playing at home and we can expect a scintillating clash.

The Indian juggernaut continues to roll on at the ODI World Cup 2023. IND brushed aside Bangladesh in Pune on Wednesday (October 19) to establish their No.2 spot in the points table. After restricting BAN to a sub-par score of 256/8, Men in Blue then cruised to victory with stellar contributions from their top-order lineup. The right-handed batter Shubman Gill secured a half-century and he was well supported by Rohit Sharma on the top who continued his dazzling form with a brisk 48, and Kohli's 48th ODI century added the finishing touch to a commanding performance. Rohit is now the second top run-getter of this edition of the World Cup, with 265 runs in 4 innings at an average of 66.25. He is followed closely by Kohli, who has 259 runs from 4 innings at 129.50.

New Zealand have been thoroughly clinical so far in this World Cup, outplaying their opponents with the utmost authority. In their previous game, they handed Afghanistan a 149-run drubbing at Chennai after putting on 288-6 on the board. The Kiwis have a very strong top and middle order, led admirably by the unassuming Devon Conway. The left-handed opener is topping the team’s batting charts this World Cup with 249 runs in 4 innings at an average of 83. Young spin bowling all-rounder Rachin Ravindra (214 runs in 4 innings at 71.66) has also shown plenty of promise playing at the No.3 position. However, it remains to be seen how he fares against India’s bowling attack on this pitch.

Match Details

Match: IND vs NZ, 21st Match, World ODI Cup 2023

Date: Sunday, October 22, 2023

Time: 2:00 PM

Venue: Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala

Pitch and Weather Report

The deck at Dharamsala is a sporting one. It offers plenty of bounce and seam movement for the quicks, particularly under lights. So, fast bowlers will be in the game throughout. Batters will have to be careful here as they can’t just hit through the line. However, once they get their eye in, they can get a good score once things ease out a little. The true bounce works in their favour as well. The first ten-odd overs in both innings will be crucial. We expect a few wickets to fall inside the first powerplay.

The average score batting first at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium after 7 ODIs is just 203. However, England blasted 364-9 here earlier in the tournament, showing that if batting teams dig in, they can get a big score here. The average runs per over at the venue is 5.14. The team batting first should look to set a target of around 280-300 runs. 

Mostly cold conditions with a patch of clouds a maximum temperature of 19 degrees Celsius and a minimum it would remain around 14 degree Celsius on the match day.

IND vs NZ Squads

IND: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul (wk), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin 

NZ: Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Tom Bundell, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult, Will Young, Ish Sodhi, James Neesham, Tim Southee 

IND vs NZ Probable Playing XIs

IND: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammad Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

NZ: Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (c & wk), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult

Match Prediction

Both sides have met nine times in the ODI World Cup. The Home team has won three of these games, while the Blackcaps have won five. One match ended without a result. Earlier this year, team India blanked NZ 3-0 at home. However, the Kiwis were missing many of their key players then and this is a different and much more balanced side.

Moreover, the seam-friendly surface at Dharamsala will suit NZ more than India. That being said, India is flying hot right now and won’t be easy to beat. IND is an in-form bowling attack too will enjoy this surface and won’t make things easy for the opposition. Then there is India’s strong batting unit as well, who are looking ominous with every game. If NZ can dismantle India’s top and middle order, they will have a real chance here. Otherwise, they might find the goings tough against this Indian side. But we reckon team India will be the favourite for this match.

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