In the forthcoming clash at Dharamshala, the audience will witness a riveting encounter between the only remaining undefeated teams in the competition: the formidable host nation, India, and the resolute New Zealand side. This high-stakes showdown marks a pivotal moment in the ICC ODI World Cup, as the Rohit Sharma-led Indian squad readies itself to confront New Zealand in their fifth group stage encounter.
The anticipation surrounding this match is not merely confined to the contest on the field; it extends to the broader narrative of India’s historical struggles against the Black Caps in significant International Cricket Council (ICC) tournaments. For the Indian team, this encounter carries the weight of past encounters and the aspiration to finally overcome the formidable challenge that New Zealand has consistently posed in such prestigious competitions. It is a moment of reckoning, a test of their mettle, as they aim to rewrite their history against their determined opponents.
One can argue that New Zealand’s real test in this tournament begins now. They’ve had an impressive start with four consecutive wins, including a fantastic victory against England to kick off their campaign. However, their subsequent wins against the Netherlands, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan were expected, given the difference in team strength.
Now, New Zealand faces a challenging phase with four consecutive matches against cricket powerhouses: India, Australia, South Africa, and Pakistan. These matches will serve as a true litmus test, revealing the Kiwis’ actual prowess. It’s worth noting that New Zealand has often been underrated in international cricket. They reached the finals of the last two ODI World Cups, and their current form suggests they are well on their way to, at the very least, securing a spot in the semi-finals this year.
On the other hand, India remains in formidable form, appearing nearly unstoppable. They recently secured another routine victory against Bangladesh, and their batting lineup looks increasingly invincible. The formidable trio at the top of India’s batting order, comprising Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli, is a combination that cricket teams around the world can only admire and wish to emulate. To thwart this powerful lineup, New Zealand will need to deliver an exceptional performance.
INDIA VS NEW ZEALAND HEAD-TO-HEAD IN ODI WORLD CUP
In the realm of ICC ODI World Cup tournaments, India and New Zealand have engaged in fierce competition on nine occasions. Of these nine clashes, India has emerged victorious in three, demonstrating their cricketing prowess on the global stage. In contrast, New Zealand has secured victory in five of these encounters, underscoring their competitive spirit. Additionally, one match ended in a draw, highlighting the unpredictability of cricket, where weather conditions can also play a significant role in the outcome.
Turning to the scores, India’s highest total against New Zealand in the World Cup stands at an impressive 252 runs, emphasizing their ability to build substantial innings when it counts the most. Conversely, New Zealand’s highest score against India in these marquee events reached a commendable 253 runs, showcasing their resilience and competitiveness.
However, in the ever-fluctuating world of cricket, there are moments of challenge and adversity. New Zealand’s lowest total against India in the World Cup amounted to 146 runs, while India’s lowest total against New Zealand in the same event was 150 runs. These figures serve as a reminder that even the strongest teams can face difficulties when facing each other on the grand stage of the ICC ODI World Cup.
The New Zealand cricket team stands out for its collective strength rather than relying solely on individual brilliance. Their success in ICC tournaments speaks to their ability to function as a cohesive and harmonious unit, consistently surpassing expectations. Their track record in ICC events serves as a testament to their reliability, making it unwise to underestimate their potential to reach the final four in any competition. Notably, India’s last victory over New Zealand in an ICC tournament dates back to the 2003 World Cup when Sourav Ganguly captained the team to a decisive seven-wicket win. Since that memorable victory, India has encountered a series of defeats against the Black Caps in various ICC events. As they prepare to face New Zealand once more, the Men-in-Blue are well aware that the task ahead will be no less challenging than in previous encounters.
| INDIA VS NEW ZEALAND | ||
| 9 | Matches | 9 |
| 3 | Won | 5 |
| 5 | Lost | 3 |
| 0 | Tie | 0 |
| 1 | Abandoned | 1 |
| 252 | Highest score | 253 |
| 150 | Lowest score | 146 |
| Date | Winner | Margin | Venue |
| 9-Jul-19 | New Zealand | 18 runs | Manchester |
| 13-Jun-19 | – – – | Abandoned | Trent Bridge |
| 14-Mar-03 | India | 7 wickets | Centurion |
| 12-Jun-99 | New Zealand | 5 wickets | Nottingham |
| 12-Mar-92 | New Zealand | 4 wickets | Dunedin |
| 31-Oct-87 | India | 9 wickets | Nagpur |
| 14-Oct-87 | India | 16 runs | Bengaluru |
| 13-Jun-79 | New Zealand | 8 wickets | Leeds |
| 14-Jun-75 | New Zealand | 4 wickets | Manchester |
INDIA AND NEW ZEALAND IN ICC WORLD CUPS OVER THE YEARS
India vs New Zealand, 1975 Prudential Cup
The inaugural World Cup, a 60-overs-a-side tournament, unfolded in England. During this historic edition, India and New Zealand locked horns at Old Trafford, Manchester. India, having won the toss, chose to bat first, and they managed to accumulate a total of 230 runs, losing all their wickets in the allotted 60 overs. Syed Abid Ali was the standout performer, emerging as the top scorer with 70 runs to his name.
In response, New Zealand relied on the exceptional performance of their ace opener, Glen Turner, who earned the title of Man-of-the-Match. Turner’s remarkable, unbeaten century of 114 runs guided New Zealand to victory as they chased down the target, winning the match by four wickets with seven balls to spare. This historic encounter marked New Zealand’s triumph in the first-ever World Cup.
India vs New Zealand, 1979 Prudential Cup
India and New Zealand encountered each other for the second time in a World Cup, and this clash took place at Headingley, Leeds, in 1979. In an interesting turn of events, New Zealand won the toss but chose to field. Sunil Gavaskar was the standout performer for India, emerging as the top scorer with 55 runs. However, the rest of the Indian batting lineup couldn’t muster more than 38 runs individually, leading to India being all out after 55.5 overs, with a total of 182 runs.
On the other side, New Zealand’s BA Edgar, who was awarded the Man-of-the-Match, displayed an exceptional unbeaten innings of 84 runs. He received valuable support from Glen Turner, who contributed 43 runs not out. Together, they steered New Zealand to a resounding eight-wicket victory in 57 overs, marking a significant win for the Kiwis.
India vs New Zealand, 1987 Reliance World Cup
The 50-over World Cup made its debut in India for the first time, transitioning from a 60-over format to 50 overs. During the 1987 Reliance World Cup, India had not one, but two encounters with New Zealand, and remarkably, both matches ended in India’s favor. One of these victories took place at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. Kapil Dev was the standout performer, earning the title of Man-of-the-Match for his unbeaten, rapid innings of 72 runs from just 58 balls.
Navjot Singh Sidhu was the top scorer for India with his 75 runs, while Kiran More contributed with a fiery, unbeaten innings of 42 runs from 26 balls. India concluded their innings at 252 for 7 within their allotted 50 overs. In response, New Zealand’s opener, Ken Rutherford, displayed an impressive performance, amassing 75 runs, and Andrew Jones remained unbeaten with 64 runs. Despite their efforts, the Kiwis fell short of the target by 16 runs, with two wickets in hand. This match marked India’s first-ever victory over New Zealand in a World Cup encounter.
India vs New Zealand, 1987 Reliance World Cup
In that same World Cup, India and New Zealand crossed paths once more, this time at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. This match is particularly memorable for featuring Sunil Gavaskar’s only century in One-Day International (ODI) cricket. New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat first, posting a total of 221 runs for nine wickets. Dipak Patel emerged as their top scorer with 40 runs, while Indian seamer Chetan Sharma claimed three crucial wickets.In response, India’s opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth showcased an impressive performance, contributing 75 runs off 58 balls. However, the highlight of the match was Sunil Gavaskar’s remarkable innings. He remained unbeaten with a century, scoring 103 runs from 88 balls. Gavaskar’s magnificent display guided India to a resounding nine-wicket victory over New Zealand. His century earned him the title of Man-of-the-Match, marking this as his only century in ODIs, in addition to the 34 centuries he had scored in Test cricket, which was the highest at that time.
India vs New Zealand, Benson Hedges World Cup 1992
The World Cup made its way to Australia and New Zealand for the first time, and this tournament is notably remembered for the impressive performance of the Kiwis, led by their fearless captain, Martin Crowe. At their home ground in Carisbrook, Dunedin, New Zealand won the toss and opted to bowl first. During India’s innings, the 19-year-old Sachin Tendulkar, who would later achieve legendary status, emerged as the top scorer with 84 runs. Captain Mohammad Azharuddin also made a significant contribution with his half-century, amassing 55 runs. India concluded their innings with a total of 236 for 6 within their allotted 50 overs. In response, New Zealand’s opener, Mark Greatbatch, laid a strong foundation for the team with his solid innings of 73 runs. Andrew Jones also played a crucial role, remaining unbeaten with 67 runs, as the team successfully chased down the target in 47.1 overs with four wickets in hand.
In the ICC World Cup of 1999, both India and New Zealand progressed to the Super Six stage. The tournament, being hosted in England for the fourth time, saw India’s captain, Azharuddin, winning the toss and electing to bat at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. In a challenging contest, only Ajay Jadeja displayed remarkable courage against New Zealand’s formidable pace attack. He emerged as the top scorer for India, accumulating 76 runs. India concluded their innings with a total of 251 for 6 in their allotted 50 overs.
In response, New Zealand’s batsmen put up a strong fight, with Matt Horne contributing 74 runs and Roger Twose earning the Man-of-the-Match title for his unbeaten 66 runs. New Zealand successfully chased down the target with relative ease, achieving the required total in 48.2 overs with five wickets to spare.
India Vs New Zealand, ICC World Cup 2003
During the inaugural World Cup held in South Africa, India found themselves up against New Zealand at Centurion Park, Centurion. The Indian skipper, Sourav Ganguly, won the toss and decided to put New Zealand in to bat first. The standout performance of the match belonged to the Man-of-the-Match, Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan. He wreaked havoc on New Zealand’s top and middle-order, finishing with impressive figures of 4 for 42 in 8 overs. Thanks to his stellar performance, India successfully restricted New Zealand to a total of 146 all out within their allotted 50 overs.
In India’s innings, the early loss of Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, and Sourav Ganguly left the team with just 21 runs on the scoreboard. However, a resilient partnership between Mohammad Kaif, who remained unbeaten with 68 runs off 129 balls, and Rahul Dravid, who also stayed unbeaten with 53 runs off 89 balls, played a slow but steady innings. Their efforts paved the way for India to secure a convincing seven-wicket victory in 40.4 overs.
India Vs New Zealand, ICC World Cup 2019
Following their encounters in each World Cup until 2003, India and New Zealand’s paths diverged, with no meetings in the subsequent three editions in 2007, 2011, and 2015. The anticipated reunion took place in the 2019 World Cup, which was the fifth installment of the event hosted in England. This encounter was scheduled at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, but much to the dismay of cricket enthusiasts, heavy rainfall led to the match being abandoned without a single delivery bowled.
India Vs New Zealand, ICC World Cup 2019
In their last World Cup encounter at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester, India faced New Zealand. New Zealand’s skipper, Kane Williamson, and Ross Taylor played crucial innings, scoring 67 runs off 90 balls and 74 runs off 90 balls, respectively, helping their team set a target of 239 for 8 wickets in 50 overs. The Man-of-the-Match, Matt Henry, in collaboration with Trent Boult and Mitchell Santner, dismantled India’s top order.
India found themselves in dire straits, losing their first three wickets with just five runs on the board, and at the halfway mark, half the team was back in the pavilion with only 71 runs to their name. A spirited partnership between MS Dhoni, who scored 50 runs off 72 balls, and Ravindra Jadeja, who contributed 77 runs in 59 balls, gave India hope as they stitched together 116 runs for the seventh wicket. However, their efforts came too late in the match. Once they were dismissed, it proved to be a straightforward task for New Zealand to secure an 18-run victory.
HARDIK PANDYA’S ANKLE INJURY FORCES HIM OUT OF INDIA VS. NEW ZEALAND CLASH
India, the host nation of the Cricket World Cup, faced a significant setback on Friday when their dynamic all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, was forced to miss the highly anticipated top-of-the-table match against New Zealand due to an ankle injury. This unfortunate incident occurred when Pandya twisted his left ankle during the very first over he bowled for India in a match against Bangladesh. It’s worth noting that India secured a convincing seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the contest held in the western city of Pune.
In the broader context of the tournament, it’s important to acknowledge the consistently underrated New Zealand team. They have exhibited remarkable resilience and skill, having reached the finals of the last two ODI World Cups. The Kiwis are currently in splendid form, and it appears highly likely that they will, at the very least, secure a place in the semi-finals once again this year.
In the same breath, India remains a force to be reckoned with in this tournament, appearing nearly unstoppable. They recently clinched yet another routine victory against Bangladesh, and with each match, their batting line up seems to reinforce its aura of invincibility. The top three batsmen, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli, form a triumvirate that is the envy of cricketing nations across the globe. To halt this formidable trio in its tracks, New Zealand will need to deliver a truly extraordinary performance.