The Indian team has gone through a lot in the past seven days. A lacklustre batting display, end of near-three-decade domination in World Cups, scathing social media attacks and pressure to stay alive in the World T20 will be on the Indian team's mind as they take on New Zealand in a virtual knockout contest of the T20 World Cup.
With Virat Kohli deciding to relinquish T20I captaincy after the showpiece, India is chasing perfect swansong for the skipper. Eyeing a big finish in the tournament, India will look to quickly get back to winning was, having endured a demoralising 10-wicket defeat to arch-rivals Pakistan.
It, however, won't be an easy task against the BlackCaps, who have Tim Southee and Trent Boult in their artillery. A dodgy Hardik Pandya and an out-of-form Bhuvneshwar Kumar add to India's woes ahead of the all-important contest. While Pandya hasn't looked like himself since the back injury, Bhuvneshwar hasn't been effective and perhaps could be playing his last big tournament in Indian colours.
With Pakistan already on six points having played all their tough games in the first week of Super 12s, they are expected to steamroll Namibia and Scotland en route their expected top place finish in Group 2. This leaves India and New Zealand under a bit of pressure. One who wins the India-New Zealand contest will have a chance to grab the second spot and finish with four wins.
Kohli's luck with the toss
While the team management will be aiming to iron out any chinks, the coin luck will be a crucial factor in the much-awaited contest. Kohli's love-hate relationship with the toss is not a secret and Indian fans would be glued to their television during the flip of coin, praying for a desirable result for the Men in Blue.
The unavoidable dew factor can obstruct India in the second innings, just like it did in the Pakistan game. Majority of the teams batting first have had an upper hand so far in the tournament. Kohli will be having no qualms in electing to field in case he wins the toss on Sunday.
"Yeah, it will continue to be a big factor and that is the nature of the tournament. You can look at the situation in two ways, you can bank too much on the toss and you can challenge yourselves as a team that even if you lose the toss, you are good enough to bowl or bat at any situation," said Kohli on the eve of the Kiwi challenge.
The curious case of Hardik Pandya
All eyes will be the team combination, especially Hardik Pandya's place in the Playing XI. A fit Shardul Thakur in the ranks makes Hardik's life more difficult.
The flamboyant Baroda all-rounder is unlikely to roll his arms but squeeze in the side on the back of his finishing ability. Hardik was seen bowling in the nets under the watchful eyes of mentor MS Dhoni and coach Ravi Shastri but his skills with the ball are yet to be tested. The team management won't tinker with the combination if they feel Shardul doesn't fit in the set-up as No.7 batter.
The Kiwi challenge
India haven't looked their self against New Zealand. In fact, they are yet to open their tally against the Kiwis in T20 World Cups. A young Indian brigade, led by MS Dhoni, won the inaugural T20 World Cup in South Africa back in 2007. Their only loss in the
tournament came against New Zealand.
India's recent heartbreaks were also against New Zealand. The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) defeat and the 2019 50-over World Cup loss will perhaps inspire Kohli and Co to punch above their weight in the World T20 battle. Overall, India have won just six out of 16 T20I games against the Kiwis.
Ashwin or Chakaravarthy?
India can go with either the experienced Ravichandran Ashwin or leg-spinner Rahul Chahar in place of mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy. Ashwin may have made a return to the T20I set-up, but a place in the Playing XI still looks uncertain for him.
His ability to bowl in crunch situations including the PowerPlay makes Ashwin an ideal choice against the Kiwis but the change will ultimately depend on the management and skipper.
Keeping aside a lacklustre Indian Premier League (IPL) season in the UAE, Ashwin has got 52 wickets in 46 T20 Internationals at an economy of just under seven. India will take the field with the pace troika of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, and add a spinner to the mix.
Shami's tryst with "spineless" trolls
Mohammed Shami was subjected to racial slurs after India went down against Pakistan. An off-colour Shami will also eye a strong return, with the skipper rallying behind him. Kohli has slammed the “spineless” trolls who overlooked the fact that Shami had made some great contributions for the country.
Kohli has time and again reiterated that the chatter on the outside doesn’t reach the team and Shami will be raring to go alongside Jasprit Bumrah. While the Indian bowling unit failed to leave its mark against Pakistan, one cannot write it of at any stage of the tournament. Both Shami and Bumrah are skillful operators with the ball.
