The upcoming Indian cricket team match against New Zealand is set to take place on January 18, 2023 at 1:30 PM IST at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
When it comes to the head-to-head record between the two teams, a total of 113 matches have been played, with India winning 55 and New Zealand winning 50.
There has been one tie and 7 no results. In terms of recent form, both teams have been performing well in ODIs.
However, the absence of key players on the New Zealand side may give India an advantage, especially when playing on their home turf.
Recent form
The men in blue just finished schooling Sri Lanka in a historic 3-0 whitewash, with Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill hitting centuries and making the batting lineup look like a force of nature.
One player to keep an eye on is the young and talented Shubman Gill, who has been consistently impressing and is a sure bet for the World Cup squad.
This series against the Kiwis will be a great opportunity for players like Gill, Siraj, Iyer, and Kuldeep Yadav to showcase their skills and solidify their spot in the World Cup lineup. The team has also made some changes to the ODI squad, with Ishan Kishan remaining and Srikar Bharat replacing KL Rahul.
In the bowling department, Shardul Thakur takes the place of Arshdeep Singh, and all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed has been brought in to replace Axar Patel. It’s clear that the Indian team is going all-out for this series and bringing in their best players.
As for the team’s strategy, coach Dravid and captain Sharma will be focusing on solidifying their XI for the World Cup. Despite some recent struggles, Rohit Sharma is still a valuable asset as an impact player at the top of the order. With Gill’s consistent scoring, Sharma can play his natural, attacking game in the powerplay.
The Indian bowlers to watch out for are Mohammad Siraj and Mohammad Shami, who have been making a big impact in recent matches. They can be expected to make quick work of the opposition’s top order with the new ball.
On the other side of the field, New Zealand will be coming into this series fresh off a win in Pakistan and ready for another challenging match in the subcontinent.
The team has brought in some new faces for this ODI squad, including Jacob Duffy, Blair Tickner, Henry Shipley, and Doug Bracewell. These players will have a big opportunity to prove themselves in India and help prepare the team for the World Cup.
The Kiwi batting lineup also has some promising players, such as Devon Conway and Finn Allen at the top, and Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham in the middle order. Glenn Phillips and Mark Chapman will also be key players to watch, especially with the absence of star player Kane Williamson.
IND vs NZ Probable Playing XIs
INDIA
Rohit Sharma, SHubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Chahal, Siraj, Umran Malik, Shami
NEW ZEALAND
Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Micheal Bracewell, Santner, Ish Sodhi, Ferguson, Blair Tickner, Dough Bracewell
Weather and Pitch stats
The pitch at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad is known for being flat, with high scores being recorded in the past, including Sachin’s legendary 175 against Australia. But, as the game goes on, the pitch tends to slow down and the dry surface may benefit the spinners in the second innings.
As for the weather, it’s looking sunny and clear with a high of 31 degrees Celsius on match day.
The venue has a history of being favorable for India, as they defeated New Zealand by an innings in a Test match here.
With an average 1st innings score of 278 runs, this venue promises to be a high scoring one.
Now, when it comes to the toss, it’s likely that the team winning it will opt to bowl.
In the past, only 6 ODIs have been played at this venue, with teams batting first and second winning 3 each.
Who will win
With both teams in decent form, it’s going to be an exciting match, but with key players missing in the visitor’s squad, India would start as favorites to win the 1st ODI.
So, get ready for a thrilling encounter, and fans can expect a high-octane battle between the two sides as they look to assert their dominance on the field.
