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The ODI World Cup 2023 is gearing up for a thrilling encounter as two unbeaten giants, India and New Zealand, are set to face each other in the picturesque setting of Dharamsala on Sunday, October 22. However, clouds of concern hover over India as they deal with the absence of their ace all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, sidelined due to an ankle injury sustained in the match against Bangladesh.
The injury, which transpired in Pune on October 19, has ignited discussions regarding who will step into India's Playing XI in Pandya's stead. With this in mind, skipper Rohit Sharma has gone in for Mohammed Shami and the extra batting option in Suryakumar Yadav while also dropping Shardul Thakur from the India Playing XI. He also won the toss and chose to bowl first.
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India's Playing XI
Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj
New Zealand's Playing XI
Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham(w/c), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult
Pitch Report
“Least grass I've seen in Dharamsala, it will be on the slower side. What one must worry about is the dew, and how much dew comes on. It is a lot cooler here, so that will be a factor taken into account as well. This pitch will be on the slower side, but still a good wicket to bat on. Despite there being dew, teams though shouldn't be afraid to bat first,” reckons Ravi Shastri with Simon Doull.
What the captains said:
“We'll bowl first. No reason, we were here training yesterday and felt a bit of dew comes in. Looks like a good pitch, we'll back ourselves to chase. Quite important to keep the momentum going, forget what happened in the past. Need to be at it all the time. This is one place everyone wants to come and play, beautiful weather and nice stadium,” Rohit Sharma said ahead of the match
“We'd have bowled first as well. Looks a good surface, and we know the dew will come in. We need to keep the momentum going. We are in a new ground, new conditions so need to adjust to these conditions as quickly as we can,”
IND vs NZ: Match Preview
India has been exceptional in the tournament, clinching wins in every match they've played. Their recent victory against Bangladesh, highlighted by Virat Kohli's splendid century, stands out. On the other hand, New Zealand, showcasing remarkable consistency, has overcome all challenges posed by their opponents.
Adding intrigue to this face-off is New Zealand's track record of overpowering India in ICC tournaments, remaining unbeaten against them since 2003. This historical context heightens the excitement for the forthcoming clash.
In the current standings, New Zealand holds the prime spot with a notable net run rate of +1.923. India is hot on their heels, occupying the second position with 8 points and a net run rate of +1.659. While a win against the Blackcaps could elevate India to the top, the path to that pinnacle promises to be demanding.
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