IND vs NZ: India will be up against New Zealand in their fifth game of the ICC World Cup 2023. The match will take place in Dharamsala on Sunday (22nd October) and it’ll be a contest to watch as both teams are undefeated in the tournament. The Men in Blue has played a dominant brand of cricket and are looking favourites for the title but they will be wary of the Kiwi challenge as they have yet to register victory over them in ICC events since 2003.
IND vs NZ: India Playing 11 for the game against New Zealand prediction
IND vs NZ is likely to be one of the most exciting clashes in the tournament so far. The conditions in Dharamsala assist seamers more and it’ll be a great test for the batter of both teams.
Coming to the Indian playing XI, captain Rohit Sharma and young Shubman Gill will be donning the top spots. The duo has been in terrific form and has looked to take on bowlers early on in the innings. They would be hoping to do the same in IND vs NZ but against Trent Boult, it won’t be as easy as they think.
Virat Kohli, who will bat at No.3, will be coming into the game on account of his terrific century against Bangladeshi. The Indian top three have looked in tremendous touch in the ICC World Cup and there’s no brainer that they will be batting in their positions against New Zealand.
Shreyas Iyer didn’t have a great outing against Bangladesh as he went for would hoic and ended up getting caught. But he’s likely to retain his place in the team for IND vs NZ. KL Rahul has been India’s best middle-order batter in the World Cup and there’s no brainer that he bat at No.5.
Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the IND vs NZ game. He faced ankle injury against Bangladesh and was deemed unfit for the game. In his place, it is expected that India might bring in Suryakumar Yadav in the mix as an extra batter.
Ravindra Jadeja is expected to play crucial role with bat, especially in the absence of Hardik Pandya. Apart from this, he will be handling as spin bowling department with Kuldeep Yadav, who has been India’s prime spinner, in IND vs NZ.
With Hardik Pandya not being there, India will have only 5 bowling options and therefore they are unlikely to play Shardul Thakur as the fifth seamer. Mohammad Shami might be included in the XI and the conditions in Dharamsala would be in favour of him. He along with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj can be lethal in Dharamsala wicket.
Here’s India’s XI for the game against New Zealand prediction
Rohit Sharma (c)
Shubman Gill
Virat Kohli
Shreyas Iyer
KL Rahul (wk)
Suryakumar Yadav
Ravindra Jadeja
Mohammad Shami
Kuldeep Yadav
Jasprit Bumrah
Mohammed Siraj
IND vs NZ: Two key players to watch out in the game between India and New Zealand
One of the key players to watch out for in IND vs NZ will be captain Rohit Sharma. The Indian skipper has come out with real intent and has tried to take on bowlers early on in the innings. He has struggled against left-arm pacers in his career but in this World Cup, he has looked completely different against them. He has batted with an open stance against them and has tried to put pressure on pacers.
Also Read: ICC World Cup 2023 Most Sixes Ranking [Top 5 Players]: Rohit Sharma Joins the List with 13 Sixes
Another player that would be under the spotlight is Trent Boult. The Kiwi pacer has dismantled the Indian batting lineup on many occasions and would be hoping to do the same this time around as well. With Dharamsala wicket offering swing, he will be very threatening in the game.