In Stats: India’s Record at Kotla and NZ’s Middle Order Issue
Take a look at India’s amazing record at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in New Delhi ahead of the second ODI vs NZ.
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After a commanding victory in the first ODI in Dharamsala, the MS Dhoni-led Indian team will take on New Zealand in the second one-day international which will be played at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium at New Delhi on Thursday.
India’s Happy Hunting Ground
The Indian team will start the match as favourites yet again, as they are the ‘in form’ team. In addition, they are undefeated in the last seven one-day internationals they have played at the historic Feroz Shah Kotla and should feel the good vibes when they take the field on Thursday afternoon.
In fact, if one were to look across the three formats of international cricket, India haven’t lost a match in their last 13 outings (dating back to December 2005) at the Kotla.
The Indian team has an incredible record in international matches at the Feroz Shah Kotla; they have more wins at the stadium than any other venue in India. Across all formats of international cricket, the Indian team has won 25 of the 51 matches they have played at the Kotla.
The Kiwis meanwhile are yet to taste success at the Feroz Shah Kotla. They have played five international matches at the venue so far and are yet to win a match.
Disappointing Tour For NZ’s Middle Order
One of the primary reasons for New Zealand’s disappointing run so far on this tour has been the lack of runs from their middle order. Apart from the first Test match in Kanpur, the Kiwis batting at numbers three, four and five have hardly made any significant contribution with the bat so far.
From a total of 21 individual innings across four matches on this tour, the Kiwis have only realised a total of 456 runs and two half-centuries from their middle order; this is in stark contrast to the Indian middle order, who have accumulated a total of 1152 runs in the same number of innings as the Kiwis.
The Kiwis need a substantial contribution from their experienced middle order – comprising skipper Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and Corey Anderson. And they need it now!
Low Scoring Contest in the Offing
Looking back at previous one day internationals – dating back to 2010, the average first innings total in day and night matches at the Kotla is 229. In the last seven day and night ODIs played at the Kotla, the team batting first has scored in excess of 300 only once.
In the remaining six ODIs, the team batting first has posted under 250 on five occasions. So if history is any indication, one should expect a low scoring contest and that batsmen from both teams will have to work hard for their runs.
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