Triumph or Perish

Virat Kohli’s India face New Zealand in virtual quarter-final clash at Dubai today; win will be massive boost to qualifying for knockout round from Group 2

It seems Pakistan have stolen India’s script for the T20 World Cup. The Men in Blue were expected to run through the opposition and storm into the semi-finals. But Pakistan have surely stolen the thunder thus far. Now, it is the right time for the Indians to take centrestage as they play their remaining four matches in nine days, beginning with New Zealand in Dubai today. 

Patience tested

India’s leisurely start, having lost to Pakistan previous Sunday, have surely tested the patience of their fans, who want to see their team on top of the world, or at least on top of their game. 

A full week’s rest away from the media’s peering eyes has given rise to speculations. Now, the moment of truth has arrived for Team India—win the New Zealand game or perish.        

Indian skipper Virat Kohli discounted that his team was under extra pressure, especially after the badgering on social media, saying: “Outside views have no bearing on our game. For us, every game is important. We have the resilience and mental toughness to fight back after a reversal, which we have done in the past. What is important for us is that we go into every game with a positive attitude.”

Also Read: T20 WC: Kohli slams 'spineless people' for abusing Shami, calls it pathetic 
  
Though the majority of the games have been won by the team chasing [10 out of 12 till Friday], some teams including Afghanistan have shown that with incisive bowling, the fight can be taken to the wire despite the dew factor. The ideal situation for India would be to win the toss, put the opposition in, bowl well enough to restrict the Kiwis and then for their top order to fire and chase down the target.

However, it’s easier said than done and New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has aptly put the toss in the category of  ‘uncontrollables,’ for which the teams have to be prepared both mentally and strategically.  

Kohli also agreed in a pre-match virtual media interaction that “the toss is a factor in this nature of the tournament. But what is more important is that we should have the attitude to play at our optimum, win or lose the toss. Either way the team have to bring its best game to the fore.”  

Bowling combination crucial

As of now, it’s difficult to predict what plan the Indian captain has devised, especially concerning the bowling combination. Will there be a change or two? But one thing is sure, India’s pride have been hurt after losing to their arch-rivals and they are eager to make amends and show the world who the real boss is. 

The last time India met New Zealand on the world stage was the 2019 World Cup semi-final at Manchester in a rain-affected game which went against India. But that was in a different format and in very different conditions. 

Now, things are loaded in India’s favour and they need to grab it with both hands. The spinners have to be effective while the pacemen have to be parsimonious. And hopefully, the failure of the top order batsmen against Pakistan was just an aberration. 

The need of the hour is for the team to fire on all cylinders and take one game at a time en route the semi-finals.

Will India break the Kiwi jinx?

. Team India are yet to win any match against New Zealand in ICC tournaments since the 2003 World Cup in 
Southern Africa. 

. In the 2007 T20 World Cup when India became champions, they lost to the Kiwis by 10 runs at Wanderers. In the 2016 T20 World Cup, NZ thumped India by 47 runs at Nagpur. 

. In the 50-over World Cup in 2019, India went down by 19 runs in the semi-final at Old Trafford. 

. The Kiwis also won the first-ever ICC Test Championship final against India earlier this year. 

. What is heartening is India have won all of their eight T20Is against New Zealand post the 2016 T20 World Cup.

Also Read: Taking the knee was communicated to us by team management, says Virat Kohli

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