Video and movie streaming service Amazon Prime Video has released a documentary highlighting the rivalry shared between the two sides in a six-part mini-series. The widely-watched streaming service also announced that they will broadcast India's upcoming limited-overs tour against New Zealand, which kicks off on November 18, with Prime Video being the official rights holder to exclusively stream all men’s and women’s cricket matches played in New Zealand for the Indian market.
Ahead of India's first challenge after the T20 World Cup currently taking place in Australia, the streaming service announced the launch of the mini-series named, "Taking Guard: India’s Quest for Kiwi Glory." The documentary highlights different themes and showcases India’s tours to New Zealand over the years while also exploring India’s fabled rivalry with the Kiwis, going back to 1967, through archival match footage, sound bytes and graphics.
Former greats of the game, who have lent their voice to tell their riveting stories include Ravi Shastri, Ajit Agarkar, Danny Morrison, Simon Doull and Ian Smith. Harsha Bhogle, who has not only witnessed this rivalry from close quarters but has been the voice narrating the highs and lows from some of these matches from the commentary box, also talks about his experience. The new series launched exclusively on Prime Video on Thursday, November 3.
“At Prime Video we are committed to super-serving our customers in India, providing on-demand access to the best in entertainment across formats, genres and language,” said Chaitanya Divan, Head of Sports, Prime Video, India. “We are now excited to bring them the best in live sports and provide a new viewing experience of the much anticipated bi-lateral tour this November, between the two titans of the cricketing world – India and New Zealand.”
“Indians have a huge appetite for cricket and we are excited to present the new exclusive mini-series Taking Guard before India’s highly-anticipated tour to New Zealand in a few weeks. Featuring insights and analysis from cricketing legends, Taking Guard casts the spotlight on the rivalry between the two countries, which barely sees any baring of the teeth, snarling or heated moments on the field but is full of intense competition and peppered with mutual respect.
We are excited and look forward to this contest between two terrific and evenly-matched sides and will announce a few more initiatives for cricket fans in the coming weeks as the action moves from Australia to New Zealand.” Divan added.
Meanwhile, India's T20I squad for the New Zealand series will see mark Hardik Pandya as captain and Shikhar Dhawan as the fifty-over skipper. The T20I team will have as many as eight in-form players from India's T20 World Cup squad including Rishabh Pant, Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh. I
In addition, in the fast bowling department, Mohammed Siraj and Deepak Chahar come in for the T20Is and ODIs respectively. The young Shubman Gill who led the India A team against their Kiwi counterparts is expected to make his international debut for India in the shortest format of the game in this series.
