In a clash of Titans India and New Zealand are up against each other in the 21st match of the ODI World Cup at the scenic Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on October 22, Sunday.
India decided to bowl first after winning the toss. The decision paid off quickly with Mohammed Siraj drawing first blood for Team India in the fourth over. But the highlight of that wicket was undoubtedly Shreyas Iyer's breathtaking catch that caused the dismissal of the New Zealand's star opener Devon Conway. Conway attempted to play Siraj's full-length delivery to the pads, only to be caught spectacularly by Iyer, who then, in a light-hearted moment, signaled towards the fielding coach implying his claim for the best fielder medal.
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This gold medal tradition, introduced by the Rahul Dravid-led coaching regime, rewards standout fielding performances in every match. The likes of Virat Kohli, Shardul Thakur, KL Rahul, and Ravindra Jadeja have already been honored with it. Iyer's commendable efforts against New Zealand have skyrocketed his chances for the coveted best fielder medal.
Meanwhile, featuring among the top run-getters of the tournament, Conway's 9-ball duck certainly came as a surprise and further boosted India's bowling morale.
As the IND vs NZ face-off continued, Mohammed Shami soon joined the party. Right after the collaborative effort of Mohammed Siraj and Shreyas Iyer, Shami swiftly made his presence felt. With his very first delivery of the match, he managed to get the better of Will Young. Delivering a length ball with an unexpected bounce, Shami forced Young to cut, resulting in the ball hitting back on the stumps. This World Cup match is Young's debut, and he'll be keen to showcase his potential in subsequent opportunities.
But then came Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell to steady New Zealand's boat. As of 25 overs New Zealand are steady at 125/2 with Ravindra (57 off 61) and Daryl Mitchell (46 off 53) intact on the crease.
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.
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