Another thrilling contest between two of the best cricket teams came to an end with India scoring a thrilling win by 4 wickets.
A fixture that witnessed multiple twists and turns and some exceptional performances from star players, came to an end with Ravindra Jadeja hitting the winning boundary and fulfilling his responsibility for the team.
With that win, team India became the only squad that has been unbeaten in the tournament and now they will be expecting to continue the momentum for the rest of the tournament.
Ending New Zealand’s winning streak is another achievement for team India and that man in blue proved that they are a team that won’t allow any intimidation from any team in the ODI World Cup.
Unlike some other cricketing rivalries, the India-New Zealand rivalry is generally characterized by mutual respect among players and fans.
There is no history of acrimony or controversies that often accompany more intense rivalries like India-Pakistan or Australia-England. Another similar chapter came to an end on Sunday between the two teams.
We bring you a summary of what things went right and wrong during the match between the two giants of international cricket.
What Went Right
1) The partnership between Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell
As India won the toss and decided to bowl first, New Zealand got the chance to dominate the Indian bowling attack. After a slow start, a partnership between Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell favoured the Kiwis.
Both players handled the off-track situation in a calm and composed manner. Coming at number 3, Rachin scored 75 off 87 balls at a strike rate of 86.21. Daryl Mithcell on the other end, did what he does best, and gave a much-needed push to the run rate of the the team. At a strike rate of 102.36, Mitchell scored 130 runs off 127 balls.
The partnership played a crucial role in taking the overall score of the Kiwis to a respectable number and taking the pressure off the bowling unit.
2) The Return of Mohammad Shami
Before the start of the match, there were a lot of speculations on Mohammad Shami’s participation. Before facing New Zealand, Shami had not played any fixture in the tournament and his absence was hurting the Indian cricket fans.
However, a fantabulous comeback from Shami’s side on Sunday will force the Indian team management to make him a regular in the squad. Shami picked up a 5-wicket haul at an economy of 5.40 in 10 overs.
His consistency, wicket-taking prowess, and his knack for delivering under pressure will help Team India in the upcoming fixtures.
3) Another dependable performance from the Modern-day Legend
The ICC World Cup 2023 is turning out to be a goldmine for Virat Kohli. He has been performing consistently and his innings have helped Team India multiple times in the tournament.
Against New Zealand on Sunday, Virat scored 95 off 104 balls at a strike rate of 91.35. After the dismissal of the opening partnership, Virat gave the much-required momentum to the team and helped the squad to complete the chase.
What Went Wrong
1) Early dismissal of the opening partnership and Undue pressure on Bowlers
Devon Conway and Will Young opened the game for New Zealand on Sunday but they failed to make an impact in the game during the crucial hours. Conway was dismissed for a duck and Will Young scored 17 off 27 balls at a strike rate of 62.96.
Their failure to give the team a positive start impacted the overall score and the outcome of the match. Since Kiwis failed to score a higher number in the game, the bowlers were seen under pressure to pick wickets and at the same time control the run rate.
Team India has a good betting depth and if the opposite bowlers are under pressure, the chase becomes easier for men in blue.
