New Zealand v India, 1st ODI, Hamilton: Preview, likely XIs, prediction

New Zealand v India, 1st ODI, Hamilton: Preview, likely XIs, prediction

Virat Kohli India New Zealand

The last time these two teams met in an ODI, it resulted in one of the nail-biting thrillers in the World Cup 2019, a tournament full of it. In the end, it was New Zealand who made it through, and the consequences for India have been such that it is still unclear whether MS Dhoni, who fell at the final hurdle in that epic clash, still has anything to do with national team.

New Zealand, meanwhile, went on to experience the unpleasant side of lady luck in a manner not many teams have before. They lost the World Cup final to England by boundary count after a Super Over, and the talk is that it effected the team to such an extent, they have a psychological issue now with Super Overs, as was evidenced in the T20I leg of the ongoing series when India bested New Zealand twice in Super Overs.

The three-match series is a good place for both teams to get going on their next World Cup cycle. New Zealand will look to find that steel, that ruthless efficiency that seems to abandon them when the going gets tough. India will hope for something altogether different – they will want to solve the issues in the team combination that meant they were lacking something last time out.

To that end, India will get to try out Prithvi Shaw. The youngster’s India career was sidetracked by injury problems, but he is back fit and firing, and will be hoping to slot in as replacement for Rohit Sharma, who did his calf during the final T20I. That really is the one big change to look out for in the team.

As for the result, it’s difficult one to call, but  in these sort of matches, India usually have enough about them.

Head to head

India and New Zealand have clashed in 107 ODIs in all, and everything considered, it’s quite a closely-fought rivalry. India are ahead with 55 wins, but New Zealand aren’t too far back at 46, and will be hoping to narrow that gap this series at home.

Key players

KL Rahul (India): Everything Rahul touches these days turns to gold. He was phenomenal in the T20Is, but can he extend that to the ODIs? Will India opt to hand him the wicketkeeping gloves again, and leave Rishabh Pant on the sidelines? Many questions, we’ll have to wait for an answer.

Tim Southee (New Zealand): Southee hasn’t been in the best form in recent times, and there’s added responsibility on him heading into this match – he will have to lead a new-look pace attack comprising Kyle Jamieson, Hamish Bennett and the likes, given New Zealand’s injury troubles. Can the mentoring role bring out his best?

Likely XIs

India: Prithvi Shaw, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli (c), Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Manish Pandey, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Navdeep Saini, Jasprit Bumrah

New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Tom Blundell, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wk), Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee (c), Ish Sodhi, Hamish Bennett

Prediction

India to continue their winning streak on this tour.