Published on: Jul 8, 2019 5:23 pm IST|Updated on: Jul 9, 2019 2:41 pm IST
IND vs NZ MPL
India will meet New Zealand for the first semi-final match of the ICC World Cup 2019 in Manchester. This is going to be the first match between both the sides in this edition of the tournament as their solitary league fixture had got washed out due to rain. Moreover, this is going to be their first ever meeting in the semi-finals of the World Cup. New Zealand have played seven semis so far in the World Cups but they have gone in the finals just once.
Also Read: IND vs NZ Dream11 Match Prediction | ICC CWC 2019 | Preview, Team News, Playing11
After traveling a topsy-turvy road, black caps aim to dismantle India
New Zealand won their first six games and seemed unstoppable but they lost their last three games and made a cut into the finals backing on a better run rate. New Zealand were the runner ups in the 2015 edition of the World Cup and they would hope to clinch what they missed the last time. However, crushing a dominant India would be nothing short of a huge challenge.
After claiming the top spot in the round-robin, India eye the title
India have an upper hand over the Kiwis in the recent ODIs as they have won six out of eight matches against them since 2017. Virat Kohli led India also registered a 4-1 series win against New Zealand in New Zealand. However, the black caps put up a show of dominance against India in the first warm-up match where they bundled out India for 179. India would hope to learn lessons from their last match and overcome one last shackle before the final.
The pitch of Old Trafford has been batting friendly and the teams have comfortably crossed scores of 300 runs. A good flat surface will offer assistance to the batsmen. India have won two games at this venue and have won both of them. Moreover, reports suggest that the match will be played on a new pitch which will allow the ball to come through better and will also give the batsmen a chance to free their arms.
MUST WATCH: @imVkohli & @ImRo45 in conversation – Does it get any better than this? ?? You cannot miss this one – by @RajalAroraFor all of VK's & Hitman's Q & A click here ?? https://t.co/xuPRQx7mB9 pic.twitter.com/nBxxONN9nb— BCCI (@BCCI) July 7, 2019
MUST WATCH: @imVkohli & @ImRo45 in conversation – Does it get any better than this? ?? You cannot miss this one – by @RajalArora
For all of VK's & Hitman's Q & A click here ?? https://t.co/xuPRQx7mB9 pic.twitter.com/nBxxONN9nb
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 7, 2019
India Expected XI
MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, R Pant, V Kohli, KL Rahul, Dinesh Karthik/Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, R Jadeja, M Shami/Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav/Y Chahal
New Zealand Expected XI
Tom Latham, Ross Taylor, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson (c), Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme, James Neesham, Trent Boult, Matt Henry, Mitchell Santner, L Ferguson
IND vs NZ Best MPL Team Prediction
India
New Zealand
Best captain, vice-captain combinations: