DHARAMSALA: In a high-stakes match between two unbeaten teams, New Zealand, powered by Daryl Mitchell’s brilliant century, has set a challenging 274-run target for India in the ICC World Cup clash at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.
New Zealand were all out for a compatible 273 due to a brilliant bowling display from Indian pacer Mohammed Shami who claimed five wickets. New Zealand’s batter Daryl Mitchell scored a century that propelled his side to score a fighting total in the match.
Earlie, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and chose to bowl first against the Kiwis. India made two crucial changes to their lineup due to star all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s absence because of an ankle injury. Suryakumar Yadav, known for his explosive batting in T20s, and fast bowler Mohammed Shami were included in the team, replacing Pandya and Shardul Thakur.
New Zealand Lineup for Match Against India
New Zealand, on the other hand, entered the match with an unchanged lineup from their previous victory over Afghanistan. Despite regular captain Kane Williamson being sidelined with a fractured thumb, the Kiwis appeared confident with their squad. With three seamers led by Trent Boult and two spinners, they aimed to maintain their winning momentum in the tournament.
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India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, expressed confidence in his team’s ability to chase the target. “Looks like a good pitch, we´ll back ourselves to chase,” he said at the toss. Meanwhile, stand-in New Zealand skipper Tom Latham mentioned that they were keen on continuing their momentum and acknowledged the potential challenges posed by the Indian side.
In World Cup match-ups, New Zealand holds a 5-3 advantage over India and notably eliminated India in the semi-finals of the previous edition in 2019.
