While India’s dream run has made them favourites for an unprecedented second World T20 title, the host team cannot afford to be complacent as they take on a spirited New Zealand on Tuesday.
The odds may be in India’s favour, but numbers cannot be ignored. In the last five years, no host country has ever won the world title and no team has repeated a title triumph. That said, India’s consistent form, Dhoni’s seasoned captaincy and familiarity with the conditions on the pitch may work favourably together; and India may make history this year.
Having won their last seven T20 outings, the 2007 champions are on a roll. India hammered World ODI champions Australia in the latter’s backyard, before going on to beat Sri Lanka at home and finally, in the Asia Cup, emerge the undisputed winners in Bangladesh.
However, New Zealand may be a completely different kettle of fish. Never, in the four outings in the past has India beaten New Zealand. Let’s hope the Indian team has learnt from its loss to South Africa in a practice match for the World T20. Complacency will cost the Indian team.
Kohli Is in Excellent Form and Rohit Sharma is Raring to Go
India is hoping to rely on Vice-Captain Virat Kohli and the talented Rohit Sharma, both of whom have been in excellent form. Kohli has made four half-centuries in seven innings, and will be a veritable force to contend with. Shikhar Dhawan form is patchy, but with a team that comprises Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Dhoni, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja, the team can afford to bat deep down the order.
Jasprit Bumrah is effective both in the early stages of the game and in the death, and could possibly be India’s go-to man. India is spoilt for choice: the team has pacers and spinners galore.
New Zealand’s Considerable Arsenal
New Zealand is not without the ability to threaten India; although they may miss the fire-power of the recently-retired Brendon McCullum. The Kiwis are well-served: Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Grant Elliott, Ross Taylor and Corey Anderson form New Zeland’s batting arsenal. In the bowling department, they have excellent pacers, and a varied spin attack.
If India has an impressive number of wins in it’s kitty, the Kiwis are not far behind. They have won four out of their last five T20 Internationals against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, but looked slightly vulnerable to spin, which was responsible for checking their stunning progress in the warm-up game in Mumbai.
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