India vs New Zealand Crossover, Hockey World Cup 2023: Preview, squads, head-to-head record, streaming info

Hockey World Cup 2023: Here is all you need to know before Indian men’s hockey team’s crossover match against New Zealand at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.

Indian men’s hockey team players during a practice session in Bhubaneswar. | Photo Credit: BISWARANJAN ROUT

INDIA VS NEW ZEALAND CROSSOVER LIVE BLOG

PREVIEW (By Uthra Ganesan)

A misfiring forward line, a struggling drag-flicker and a key playmaker out with injury will be among the concerns for India when it takes the field against New Zealand for a quarterfinal spot in Bhubaneswar on Sunday. Despite these, there will be several reasons for the host to be favourite and only one to guard against – itself.

READ: India coach Reid backs Hardik’s replacement Rajkumar to do well in crossover against New Zealand

For one, there will be no permutations to worry about for the host, something that clearly bothered the Indian players against Wales even when coach Graham Reid insisted there was no pressure from him. A win is all that is needed and such clarity of purpose works for the Indian team.

Squads

India

P.R. Sreejesh, Krishna Pathak, Jarmanpreet Singh, Surender Kumar, Harmanpreet Singh (Captain), Varun Kumar, Amit Rohidas (Vice Captain), Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Manpreet Singh, Rajkumar Pal, Nilakanta Sharma, Shamsher Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Akashdeep Singh, Mandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh

Head Coach: Graham Reid

New Zealand

Dom Dixon (GK), Dane Lett, Simon Child, Nick Ross, Sam Hiha, Kim Kingston, Jake Smith, Sam Lane, Simon Yorston, Aidan Sarikaya, Nic Woods (Captain), Joe Morrison, Leon Hayward (GK), Kane Russell, Blair Tarrant, Sean Findlay, Hayden Phillips, Charlie Morrison

Head Coach: Greg Nicol

Then there is the recent history between the two sides. The last time the Black Sticks beat India in a major competition was at the 2018 Commonwealth Games semifinal. The only other time India has lost to the currently 12th ranked side in the last five years in 13 times was at the Olympic test event in 2019, when Sam Lane stuck in the dying seconds. Lane is still around but the last two matches in the Pro League, both at this very venue, went comfortably India’s way.

The crowd will be cheering the home side on but the biggest hope for the team will be Harmanpreet Singh coming good with his flicks. The India captain has looked a shadow of his natural self, unable to either find the angles or the power to breach the opposition defence during penalty corners. Even though his first goal in the competition, against Wales, came without a goalkeeper, the team will be hoping it helps get rid of any mental block and will start fighting. His form has been directly proportional to India’s gradual ascent through the ranks and India needs its skipper to start firing.

READ: Hockey World Cup 2023 Odisha - What are crossover fixtures?

An injured Hardik Singh’s official exclusion from the remaining games means Rajkumar Pal will be directly thrown in a pressure situation, although the talented youngster has proven himself more than competent. That the team management preferred to bring in a young striker as replacement instead of the more tested Jugraj Singh, who could also act as an option to Harmanpreet, shows the team’s faith in both its captain and its defence. It also speaks of the team’s clear emphasis on scoring more.

New Zealand, struggling to find its rhythm, will also be hoping to do better than it has done so far with a tighter defence and more control of the ball. India will need to guard against it coming out attacking and taking early control, allowing too much space to veteran Simon Child to create chances and conceding PCs for Kane Russell.

HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD

Played: 44 | India: 24 | New Zealand: 15 | Draw: 5

LAST FIVE MEETINGS

November 4, 2022: India 7-4 New Zealand (FIH Pro League)

October 28, 2022: India 4-3 New Zealand (FIH Pro League)

July 24, 2021: India 3-2 New Zealand (Tokyo Olympics)

August 21, 2019: India 5-0 New Zealand (Olympic test event)

August 18, 2019: India 1-2 New Zealand (Olympic test event)

When and where will India vs New Zealand Crossover match of the 2023 Men’s Hockey World Cup be played?

India vs New Zealand Crossover match of the 2023 Men’s Hockey World Cup will be played at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Sunday - January 22, 2023.

At what time will India vs New Zealand Crossover match of the 2023 Men’s Hockey World Cup begin?

India vs New Zealand Crossover match of the 2023 Men’s Hockey World Cup will begin at 7PM IST.

Where to watch India vs New Zealand Crossover match of the 2023 Men’s Hockey World Cup?

India vs New Zealand Crossover match of the 2023 Men’s Hockey World Cup will be telecast live on Star Sports First, Star Sports Select 2 HD, Star Sports Select 2 SD. The same will be streamed live on Disney+ Hotstar.

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