Image Credit- AP
India has dropped their previous four knockout games
in all formats versus New Zealand. In the last three ODI World Cups, New
Zealand has been eliminated by (one of) the hosts. On Wednesday at the
Wankhede, one of these streaks will end. This is the method.
Avoid defeat in the 1st 15 overs
The only plausible banana peel for the strong Indian
squad was a Mumbai semi-final against a big-hitting club, even before the
Wankhede Stadium showed its real colours. India has no intention of
participating in a six-hitting contest. Although they didn’t draw a
particularly strong team for the semi-final, the playing circumstances here
present a different kind of difficulty for the team losing the toss.
This World Cup, the average total when batting first
at the Wankhede has been 357 for 6, and when chasing, it has been 188 for
9. The new ball has been swinging and
seaming longer and more under the lights, which is the cause. In the first
inning, the average powerplay score is 52 for 1, and in the second, it is 42
for 4. From then on, the first innings have seen the batters’ performance
generally improve, with Maxwell being the only one to make a comeback in the second.
If you lose the toss, you have to figure out how to
restrict the target, and then for the first 15 overs, bat nearly like you’re
playing Test cricket. It has been observed that batting becomes simpler at
night, but you still need to ensure that before nightfall you have not lost
more than two wickets.
So, if India lose the toss, for example, don’t expect
Rohit Sharma to play the way he has been playing this World Cup. Expect the
same care from the New Zealand top order if they happen to be chasing.
Jadeja to be put under the pump
Although New Zealand did eliminate India from the 2019
World Cup, this time around they face a stronger team in better form. With
Mohammed Shami back, India’s bowling arsenal is being compared to the greatest
ODI assaults ever. That is, however, assuming that five frontline bowlers are
being compared against five other frontline bowlers.
That’s where New Zealand’s chance is. They need to
take out one bowler in order to go past this strong attack. And this World Cup,
the only game in which Ravindra Jadeja bowled ten overs without picking up a
wicket was against New Zealand. Mitchell Santner is the next batter in their
top six, behind three left-handers. They will want to outperform Jadeja, who
only gave up 48 the previous time, this time around.
Bat Rachin Ravindra out of the attack
There are four specialised bowling possibilities in
New Zealand, compared to India’s more than four. Because of one extra fielder
within the circle and two new balls, part-time bowlers are becoming rare, but
part-time spinners Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra have been a major part of
New Zealand’s success. The fact that neither of these part-time spinners has
attempted even a single run at the ball is absurd.
Given that India does not have a left-hand hitter in
their top six, New Zealand will probably try Ravindra more than Phillips, but
they should be prepared for India to press them and make them return to their
primary bowlers before they would like to. The absence of a fifth expert bowler
will also allow India to sit in on the seamers if they lose the toss.
Respect Santner
Santner’s final World Cup semi-final score against
India was 10-2-34-2.
10-0-37-1 is the score of this World Cup’s league
match vs India.
He is an excellent left-arm spinner who has a
favourable matchup with India. In this World Cup, right-hand batters have been
15 of his 16 victims. Moreover, he has given up 1.25 extra runs per over when
bowling to left-handed hitters. Before No. 7, India had no left-handed batters.
But, they won’t need to attempt anything unusual against Santner if they can
defeat the fifth bowler. Just don’t hand him any wickets.
Rohit’s attacking impetus
Due to Rohit’s blazing beginnings, Virat Kohli is not
even under any pressure to continue the chain reaction. Not that he can’t bat
swiftly, but given the conditions we have in ODIs, it is very hard to get Kohli
out if he isn’t asked to.
Naturally, New Zealand would like to test the two of
them with a moving ball throughout the night, but they need to get ready for
the day. Furthermore, getting Rohit out early is the greatest way to put
pressure on Kohli if India is batting first. However, Rohit has been destroying
games in the powerplay itself and destroying the new ball in this way.
If New Zealand do get Rohit early, they can hope to
control the middle overs with left-arm spin against right-hand batters and hard
lengths from the quicks.