India is gearing up for a high-stakes clash against New Zealand in their fifth ODI World Cup match. As of now, Rohit Sharma's India and Tom Latham's New Zealand are the only two teams in the tournament that have managed to maintain an undefeated streak. However, this unblemished record for one of the sides may be in jeopardy on Sunday, October 22, at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.
Captain Rohit Sharma shared his thoughts ahead of the match, acknowledging the formidable challenge of facing New Zealand, a team known for their tactical prowess. Sharma emphasized that it requires substantial effort to overcome a team of New Zealand's caliber.
"I think when I talk about tactical New Zealand comes to my mind. I feel they are tactically very strong they bat according to the plans that have been given to them. When you play against them you know some sort of planning has been done against each individual," Sharma told the broadcaster ahead of the game.
In terms of head-to-head records, India holds a 58-50 advantage over New Zealand. However, when it comes to ICC events, the Blackcaps have had the upper hand for the past 20 years. India's last ICC event victory against New Zealand dates back to the 2003 World Cup.
This trend continued with New Zealand's victories over India in the inaugural World Test Championship final in 2019 and in the T20 World Cup as well. Such prolonged streaks can have a psychological impact on a team as they head into a crucial top-of-the-table clash.
Rohit Sharma acknowledged the significance of this record and stressed the need for India to understand why they have struggled against New Zealand in ICC events and work to rectify the situation. The match against New Zealand not only holds importance in terms of the ongoing tournament but also represents an opportunity for India to break the jinx that has plagued them in recent ICC encounters with the Blackcaps.
"They have beaten us in the ICC tournaments regularly so for us it is important that we try to understand the situation first what we need to do as individuals and try to play the game," Sharma said on Star Sports.
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