New Delhi. In the World Cup 2023, Team India will face New Zealand in their fifth match. This match will be played at Dharamshala. Both India and New Zealand have won all four matches played so far. New Zealand is at the first position in the points table and India is at the second position due to good run rate. In all ICC tournaments since 1992 (counting only the finals of the WTC 2019-21 and 2021-23 cycles), India have beaten New Zealand in just one out of nine encounters. In the last World Cup also, Team India lost to New Zealand in the semi-finals. In such a situation, this match is becoming very important for India. Rohit and Co. would like to win this match and come first in the points table.
Among all venues that have hosted more than one match in the World Cup so far, Dharamshala, including Lucknow, has given the highest number of swings to fast bowlers in the first 10 overs of each innings. The same could be the case during the match between India and New Zealand. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj are the most important link of Indian pace attack. Hardik Pandya will not play against New Zealand but if Mohammed Shami gets a chance, he has the ability to swing with the new ball. India have won three of the last ODIs between the two teams while two have been drawn.
New Zealand also have a good pace trio in Trent Boult, Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson. Meanwhile, Mitchell Santner has had a good World Cup so far in the spin department. He has taken the most wickets in the tournament with 11 wickets. The top order of both the teams is also in progress.
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Devon Conway are second, third and fourth respectively in the list of batsmen who have scored the most runs in this World Cup. India’s middle order is also scoring runs. India can replace Pandya with either Suryakumar Yadav or Ishan Kishan in the playing XI. At the same time, either Shardul Thakur or Mohammad Shami could get a chance for the third fast bowler.
India’s Probable Playing XI: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Suryakumar Yadav/Ishan Kishan, Shardul Thakur/Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Siraj.
New Zealand’s Probable Playing XI: Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Tom Latham (Captain), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult