New Zealand doesn’t need to go along back to assess their recent performances against India, having played them at a similar time only last year. Coach Mike Hesson and captain Kane Williamson must have found a way to improve their previous mistakes and not to repeat them again.
In 2016, it was the bowling attacks of the Kiwis that came put a step forward and defended the scores of 242 and 260 to bag a couple of victories before losing the series by 3-2 in the final game on their last tour. On the other hand, Indian opener Rohit Sharma has already warned heir batsmen to beware of the left-arm paceman Trent Boult, as he might wreak havoc in the Indian batting line-up.
Comparing the bowling attacks of both the teams, Indian pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are no way less than Boult, Tim Southee, and co. While, Kiwi spinner Mitchell Santner made his first impression on the world stage – against India, in a World T20 game where he bagged four wickets conceding a meagre 11 runs. In ODIs against India in 2016, he could manage only three scalps. He was a miser when it comes to giving away runs as his economy was of just four. With five wickets now in the recently concluded practice games, Santner will combine with Boult to present India with a competent left-arm challenge.
However, interestingly, Dinesh Karthik also did a lot of practice in nets ahead of front-line choice, Manish Pandey. While it remains doubtful that the Tamil Nadu batsman will get a look-in ahead of Pandey, Kohli also pointed out that Indian middle-order needs some experience in the line-up. Otherwise, there don’t seem to be any other grey areas for the hosts.
Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan had opted out of the ODI series against Australia in order to take care of his wife who was unwell. But with Dhawan back in the squad, he will surely be replacing Ajinkya Rahane to get into the side.
Virat even accepted that Rahane is in a happy space and knows that he is right at the doorstep whenever there’s an opportunity up for grabs. It would also be interesting to see if the hosts try Karthik in the middle-order and add some more experience in the line-up. The makeup of the rest of the unit remains quite similar except there are chances that Shardul Thakur might make a cut, especially due to his performances in the ‘A’ series against New Zealand earlier this month.
While in the New Zealand squad, with no Jimmy Neesham or Neil Broom in the middle-order, the team management Tom Latham has been moved down the order to strengthen the line-up. His century in the second practice game only added force to that belief. Skipper Williamson affirmed that it will be Colin Munro to partner Martin Guptill at the top of the order, meaning the tourists would look to reverse their failed openings from the previous tour.
Weather and Pitch conditions
Mumbai’s weather has always been one of the most unpredictable ones, still, the reports of MET department said that there will be a balmy day with a maximum temperature of 31 degrees and humidity levels as high as 77 percent. Although there will be bursts of clouds overhead, there is no rain expected.
Some stats to look out for:
– New Zealand has played two ODIs at the Wankhede and have a 1-1 win-loss record.
– Virat Kohli will be playing his 200th ODI on Sunday. No other player has scored as many as his 8767 runs after the first 199 ODIs.
– Jasprit Bumrah needs four more wickets to become the second-quickest among Indian bowlers to 50 ODI wickets after Ajit Agarkar’s 23.
– Martin Guptill averages only 26.03 from 29 ODIs in Asia at a strike rate of 73.53 and a highest of 86*.
Probable XIs
India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (c), Manish Pandey/Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah
New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Henry Nicholls/George Worker, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi
