Welcome to the coverage of the T20 World Cup 2021 Super 12 match between India and New Zealand. This was Lalith Kalidas bringing you all the action as it unfolded at the Dubai International Stadium .
Kane Williamson | New Zealand captain: There's always planning going into game, but this was a great performance against a side that puts up a fight. The surface wasn't easy to find rhythm on, and the way the openers came out really set things up for the chase. It's just about adapting to the conditions as well as we could. The way the spinners kept applying pressure was commendable and it was a complete performance. We play against strong teams all the time, and there are match-winners in every side, and we commit to our brand of cricket and today was a good example of that. Ish is an outstanding white-ball bowler, and he's very experienced in playing T20 cricket, having played in different leagues all over the world, and we're looking forward to the rest of the games in the league stages.
Virat Kohli:
Quite bizarre. I don't think we were brave enough with bat or ball. Didn't have much to defend but we weren't brave when we walked out to field. When you play for the Indian cricket team you have a lot of expectations - not just from fans, but players as well. So there's always going to be more pressure with our games and we've embraced it over the years. Everyone who plays for India has to embrace it. And when you cope together as a team you overcome it and we haven't done it these two games. Just because you're the Indian team and there are expectations doesn't mean you start playing differently. I think we're fine, there's a lot of cricket left to play.
Ish Sodhi | Player of the Match:
I am usually big on pre-match prep, with this bubble life we haven't been able to see the ground until the day we come to the ground. The wicket here was one we had to adapt to pretty quickly. It was very different to what we played in Sharjah. The boundary sizes were very different. A big part of our game is using the bowl spin bowlers in the middle.
NZ 111/2 in 14.3 overs: Done and dusted! India suffers a crushing defeat in Dubai as Williamson rolls onto the finish line with a calm single to mid-wicket. New Zealand extends its streak against India in ICC tournament - undefeated since 2003.
NZ 108/2 in 14 overs: Class from Kane! Pandya rolls in a bumper and Williamson arches back and cuts him over Pant for FOUR. Pandya floats one in outside off and Kane laces it elegantly over extra cover for FOUR. NZ three away!
NZ 96/2 in 13 overs: Bumrah to Mitchell. OUT! Mitchell falls short of his fifty! Slower one rolled in by Boom and Mitchell mistimes the slog straight to long on. Conway is the new man in.
Daryl Mitchell c Rahul b Bumrah 49 (35b 4x4 3x6)
NZ 94/1 in 12 overs: Williamson and Mitchell are not vouching for any flashy stuff. Hardik completes a neat over as New Zealand stroll towards the finish line.
Hardik Pandya with the ball. Surprise, anyone?
NZ 89/1 in 11 overs: Bumrah continues to hit the block hole but Williamson's finesse easily handles the probing deliveries. Six runs come off it.
Bumrah returns
NZ 83/1 in 10 overs: Mitchell in the mood!
Shardul fends short and Mitchell handsomely tonks him over square leg for another
SIX. Short again and Mitchell swats it through cow corner for
FOUR. He is piling on the misery for India. Thakur follows up with a fuller delivery and Mitchell cracks the ball straight past the bowler for
FOUR.
Shardul into the attack
NZ 69/1 in 9 overs: Varun keeps it tight on the stumps but this is all too easy for New Zealand at the moment. Williamson and Mitchell churn out five singles with ease through the gaps.
NZ 64/1 in 8 overs: Jadeja bowls a flat delivery outside the off-stump and Williamson unleashes his fame late cut. The ball races to the fence down third quickly for FOUR and Kohli's frown gets worse by the minute.
NZ 55/1 in 7 overs: Short from Shami and Mitchell bangs it over mid-wicket for SIX! India's plans are completely being blown away tonight. Shami does well to build the pressure with some tight lines before faltering on all but one delivery.
Shami into the attack
NZ 44/1 in 6 overs: Mitchell takes on Jadeja. Three boundaries to finish the Powerplay and India is pushed right back in its bid to build pressure. Poor bowling from Jadeja as he fends short and strays to the pads. Mitchell easily stomps them over mid-on and finds a six and a four before crunching one through point for FOUR.
Jadeja replaces Bumrah
NZ 30/1 in 5 overs: Chakaravarthy finally gets his radar right. Mitchell is forced to play as late as possible as Varun nearly slides through his defence with a googly. Just the two runs from it and India will need more of such tight overs to induce the chinks in their batting.
NZ 28/1 in 4 overs: Bumrah to Guptill. OUT! A deceptive slower one from Boom and Guptill mistimes it altogether. Shadul fumbles with the ball but holds onto it and India gets some relief in the Powerplay. Williamson in at 3. He gets off the mark with a late cut down to short third. Martin Guptill c Thakur b Bumrah 20 (17b 3x4)
NZ 18/0 in 3 overs: Guptill on the charge. This is poor stuff from Chakaravarthy. Short and wide and Guptill slaps it past point for FOUR. He tosses it on the full and this time Guptill lofts him over mid-off for another crisp boundary.
NZ 6/0 in 2 overs: A yorker barrage from Bumrah! Guptill cops three off them low on the blade before he quickly rushes to the other side. A beauty to Mitchell as Bumrah zips it sharply to the pads. Unfortunate for him as the ball slides down leg. He's getting some fine swing to accompany his nagging length.
Bumrah from the opposite end
NZ 5/0 in 1 over: Guptill and Mitchell negate Varun watchfully. Varun fends short whille attacking the stumps but the batters play along the line and negotiate in singles.
Chakaravarthy with the new ball.
Back for the chase! Guptill and Mitchell at the middle.
Indian fans can sum this up in a word: depressing. On a big night, India fumbled with its batting line-up and it has backfired big time on Kohli and Co. None of the batters had an eye in on a seemingly two-paced track. Credit to an icy cool Williamson, whose plans have once again flaked India. His bowling changes worked to a tee and the Black Caps are now within touching distance of its first win.
IND 110/7 in 20 overs: Jadeja slaps Southee to deep mid-wicket and sets off on a two and gets it. Full toss to follow and Jadeja pummels it for SIX on the on-side. Slower bouncer from Southee and Jadeja fails to put bat to it. Jadeja lobs another straight up and gets two. Another slower one to finish and Jadeja pulls to the deep. Sodhi drops it and gives away a single.
Southee up for the final over
IND 99/7 in 19 overs: Boult to Pandya. OUT! Slaps it straight to long-off! Thakur's the new man. Boult pushes the ball in sharply and Thakur plays it down the ground. A good stop at mid-off and they fail to sneak in a single. Slower one ball and Thakur lobs it straight up! OUT! Another easy take for Guptill! Unbelievable downslide here tonight. Hardik Pandya c Guptill b Boult 23 (24b 1x4), Shardul Thakur c Guptill b Boult 0 (3b)
IND 94/5 in 18 overs: Milne rocks the bottom of the batters' blade with some fiery stuff drilled into the blockhole. Pandya and Jadeja find four singles before Jaddu parries a slower ball from Milne beside the keeper for FOUR.
IND 86/5 in 17 overs: A boundary at long last for India, first in71 balls to be precise! Boult draws wide to Pandya and he rocks back to pump the ball over point for FOUR. Right, can India step on the pedal from here for some respite?
Boult returns
IND 78/5 in 16 overs: Pandya fails to launch the big slogs once again. Luckily a mistimed slog lobs just over the inner-circle. The batters see off Sodhi who bows out after snapping India's lynchpins.
IND 73/5 in 15 overs: Milne to Pant. OUT! Cleans him up! He runs in with seething pace and fires it through the line as Pant aims for a lazy slog over long-on. This is horrendous batting from India. Jadeja is in at 6. Milne fires into hit the pads first ball and New Zealand reviews! Jadeja skips up in the air as the ball approaches and that might save. Jaddu survives as the ball misses the wickets by a couple of inches. Rishabh Pant b Milne 12 (19b)
Milne replaces Southee
IND 67/4 in 14 overs: Short from Sodhi and Hardik dishes it over mid-wicket for SIX...Oh no, Jimmy! What have you done there? Neesham soars near the square leg fence for a good two seconds and lobs the ball back inside the boundary. A stunning save and Pandya has a wry smile on his face. India isn't getting away easily one bit tonight.
IND 61/4 in 13 overs: Southee tails the ball into Pant, cramping him for room. An absolute rarity to see these two young guns keep the anchors down for so long. How much more can India rake in from here?
Southee is back
IND 58/4 in 12 overs: A cracking spell from Santner! He has been absolutely crucial for Williamson in building up the pressure on the batters tonight. Hardik and Pant nudge about in singles and Santner finishes his spell with figures of 4-0-17-0!
IND 52/4 in 11 overs: Sodhi to Kohli. OUT! HIGH IN THE AIR and straight to long on. Is that it for India? Sodhi loops one in outside off and Kohli gets a top-edge on the slog. Kohli cannot believe it and the Indians are shunned in the stands. What a night, for the b'day boy Sodhi! Virat Kohli c Boult b Sodhi 9 (17b)
IND 48/3 in 10 overs: Kohli cuts Santner fiercely twice in the over but fails to send the ball to the long boundary on the off-side. Pant and VK tread in ones and twos as India continues to crawl on a fine wicket.
IND 43/3 in 9 overs: India plays itself into a rut here. Milne cramps Kohli with some sharp in-deckers and Kohli fails to make room to pierce the gaps. The Kiwis are running away with the overs here! Just two runs coming off this one as well.
IND 41/3 in 8 overs: Sodhi to Rohit. OUT! Holes out to long-on! India in absolute shambles here. The scoreboard pressure gets to Rohit and he goes for a rash slog and perishes. Sodhi skids it off the shortish length and Rohit rocks back to pull it over the fence. He gets a toe-edge on it and Guptill storms in from the boundary to take an excellent catch. Rohit Sharma c Guptill b Sodhi 14 (14b 1x4 1x6)
Ish Sodhi into the attack
IND 37/2 in 7 overs: Kohli escapes from a run out as Rohit sends him back from the non-striker's with a loud shout. Kohli aims to get off strike with a deft push to cover but the fielder steams in on the ball. Rohit quickly notices and sends VK back to drag the bat in the crease in the nick of time. Santner continues to keep things tight. Just two runs off the over!
IND 35/2 in 6 overs: Southee to Rahul. OUT! IN THE AIR and straight to deep square leg! Absolute despair for Rahul and India. He is rushed up with a quick bumper, a bit too high for the pull there. Rahul fails to play it along the field and finds the Mitchell in the deep. Effectively, India's batting shake-up has been nullified in the Powerplay. KL Rahul c Mitchell b Southee 18 (16b 3x4)
Southee is back
IND 29/1 in 5 overs: Hitman flicks the switch! Milne begins with a wide delivery to Rahul who crashes it through point for FOUR! He gets a single and Rohit launches a similar stroke aerially over point for another FOUR. Milne zips one in and this time Rohit elegantly flicks it over mid-wicket for SIX! Effortless from Rohit there as he pulls it off the deck in some style.
Milne into the attack
IND 14/1 in 4 overs: This is an iffy start for Rohit. Santner drops short and Rohit tentatively pushes it to the on-side to find a single. KL gets off strike instantly with a flick to short fine. Santner plants Rohit deep in the crease and sneaks in three dot balls. India has lost its momentum in the Powerplay.
Santner replaces Southee
IND 12/1 in 3 overs: Boult is up on pace. He rushes in a bouncer to Rahul who mistimes his pull, fortunately short of the mid-wicket fielder. Kishan on strike. Short from Boult and Kishan pulls it for FOUR over mid-wicket! He launches another cut but this time it's stopped at point. Short again and this time Kishan finds the square leg fielder. A big strike for New Zealand! Rohit is in at 3. In the air and Milne DROPS Rohit first ball at fine leg! Goodness Me! Boult comes up with the perfect bumper onto Rohit's shoulders and he goes for the instinctive pull. Milne places himself neatly underneath but seemingly gets a bit lazy with his palms as the ball dips in. What a moment in the game! Can Rohit cash in from here? Ishan Kishan c Mitchell b Boult 4 (8b 1x4)
IND 5/0 in 2 over: Rahul off the blocks with a FOUR over mid-on! Southee tucks it into him and cramps him up to start. Rahul releases the pressure with a elegant swing over the inner-circle. A good start for the Kiwis nevertheless.
Southee from the opposite end.
IND 1/0 in 1 over: Excellent from Boult! A hint of shape to start things off for Boult as he tails it in sharply to Rahul. Rahul gets off the mark with a single to the off-side. Boult fires in and hits Kishan on the pads. Loud appeal there but the ball is sliding down leg. Excellent from Williamson to decide against the review. Kishan opens the face of the bat and plays to the covers but fails to open his account.
Trent Boult with the new ball. KL on strike.
Here we go! KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan walk out for India! Well, well who saw that coming?
Rohit Sharma isn't padded up. A sign of things to come? Our correspondent Ayan says Kishan, KL and VK are the ones with the pads on.
The teams line up for the national anthems.
Kohli's luck with the coin has hit rock-bottom. Fair enough to say he could take a leaf out of Faf du Plessis' book? Bring in a mate for the coin flip next time! Meanwhile, interesting to note that Kohli said Kishan will be opening. Who will it be at 3 and 4? VK, KL or VK and Hitman? India has to break a streak and the general trend in Dubai as it bats first.
India XI: Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan , Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur , Mohammad Shami, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah
New Zealand XI : Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson(c), James Neesham, Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips(w), Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Adam Milne , Trent Boult, Tim Southee
Suryakumar Yadav complained of back spasms. He has been advised rest by the BCCI Medical Team and has stayed back at the team hotel.
It's TOSS TIME!
7:00PM IST: Live visuals show MSD having a deep chat with Chakaravarthy. MI buddies Neesham and Bumrah have a chat while Southee joins in.
6:45PM IST: Live updates from our correspondents Amol and Ayan from the venue suggest: Warm-ups are an indication of India making two changes: Ishan and Shardul likely to come in for Surya and Bhuvi. Hardik, has marked his run-up.
6:35PM IST: Will Kane be the thorn in India's flesh tonight?
6:20PM IST: A week into its tournament and India is already in the hot seat. Here's more on the game and why it must not be termed a 'virtual quarterfinal.'
5:45PM IST: Key battles to watch out for:
5:00PM IST: On this day in 2005! Can the mentor and his boys turn things around on the 16th anniversary of an epic ODI innings.
4:45PM IST: IND vs NZ Head to Head
4:40PM IST:
A do-or-die contest like no other for both teams:
MATCH PREVIEW
A week after failing the Shaheen Shah Afridi test , India’s batters will expect yet another stern examination against Trent Boult & Co. in a must-win T20 World Cup contest against New Zealand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
While Afridi is still raw and quick, his senior left-arm pacer Boult not only is more experienced but also perhaps better knows the strengths and weaknesses of India’s batters. Having been a regular in the Indian Premier League, Boult and his colleagues in the pace department - veteran Tim Southee and quickie Adam Milne - are used to bowling regularly to all of India’s batters.
The last time these two teams faced each other in a World Cup - the semifinal in 2019 - the Kiwi pacers rolled over India’s top-order, Boult accounting for captain Virat Kohli. Having just faced a similar disaster versus Pakistan in its tournament opener, India will be hoping to avert a top-order collapse in a crucial tie.
While the attention will be on whether India ropes in Ishan Kishan and Shardul Thakur in place of Hardik Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, respectively, the onus will be on India’s top three to get off to a start and set the platform for the middle-order to show its hitting prowess.
With Rohit Sharma and K. L. Rahul succumbing to Afridi’s artistry, captain Kohli was forced to grind his way to a fifty. Come Sunday, all three of them will have to come out all guns blazing. If they can get off to a flier, the likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant and Hardik (or Ishan) can take the game away from the Black Caps in the latter half. Besides, it will also give more leeway for India’s bowlers to come into play.
All eyes on Varun
Rookie Varun Chakaravarthy couldn’t really deliver the goods under pressure against Pakistan in the opening game but with the Kiwi batters - barring the stylish Kane Williamson - not having faced him earlier, India will be banking on Varun to earn wickets with his mystery spin.
If he can spin a web on the opposition, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami can run in with an intent to pick wickets rather than contain. India will be looking forward to all the wheels of its chariot moving in sync to enable it to open its account.
Despite being a critical tie, the game will not be a virtual quarterfinal. Afghanistan, after all, has shown enough glimpses of being the giant-slayer, if not the dark horse, in the group.
- Amol Karhadkar
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WHERE TO WATCH TODAY'S MATCH?
The T20 World Cup 2021 match between India and New Zealand will be aired live on the Star Sports Network at 7:30pm IST. The online live streaming will be available on Disney+ Hotstar .
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