ICC World Cup 2019 Match 18, India vs New Zealand: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

Three wins in three matches for New Zealand; two in two for India. There is little doubt regarding who the best teams of the 2019 World Cup have been. And unless rain plays spoilsport at Trent Bridge, only one team will emerge from Thursday’s contest with their unbeaten streak in the tournament intact.

To be fair, New Zealand have had an easier route than India. They have faced Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, none of whom were touted as potential semi-finalists before the World Cup. They won two of their matches easily, but an unexpected collapse almost undid their chase against Bangladesh.

But that should not take away any sheen from the fact that they have bowled out their opposition thrice in the tournament – for an average of 184 per team. Lockie Ferguson (8) tops the wickets chart, Matt Henry (7) is joint second, and Jimmy Neesham (6) joint fourth.

India’s route has been tougher. After dealing with a scratchy South Africa, they put up 352/5 against Australia, and won somewhat convincingly after a scare. However, they received a major jolt when Shikhar Dhawan – their top-scorer in that Australia match – was ruled out of at least two matches with a hairline fracture.

Dhawan’s absence will almost certainly mean a promotion for KL Rahul from No. 4 to the opening slot. Vijay Shankar should replace Dhawan in the side given the way Nottingham has uncharacteristically assisted seamers in the tournament. The added seamer will also enable India to field both Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal.

Head to head

India hold an overall 55-45 advantage over New Zealand. They have also won the last three bilateral series including a 4-1 sweep in New Zealand earlier this year. However, India have

However, New Zealand are 4-3 ahead in World Cups. It has really been a topsy-turvy journey: New Zealand won in 1975 and 1979, then India twice in 1987, New Zealand again in 1992 and 1999, and India in 2003.

New Zealand have also won all three matches between the teams on English soil, in 1975, 1979, and 1999.

Key players

KL Rahul (India): Rahul’s stints in this World Cup have been restricted to a crucial cameo and, demoted to an uncharacteristic No. 6, a couple of slogs – but before that he had got a dazzling hundred in the warm-up match against Bangladesh. While he will be back to the top, he will be also be tested by what has been the most potent seam attack of the World Cup.

Lockie Ferguson (New Zealand): Ferguson is quick, and his bouncers somehow seem to come off the surface even quicker, often making batsmen scurry for shelter. His 8 wickets are the most by anyone in the tournament, and if he keeps continuing what he has been doing, he is going to cling on to the top spot for some time.

Likely XIs

India: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli (c), MS Dhoni (wk), Vijay Shankar, Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal.

New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wk), Jimmy Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult.

Prediction

Anything is possible, though Dhawan’s absence has tilted the balance in New Zealand’s favour ever so slightly.