Virtual Semifinal: India v New Zealand Last ODI
The word most conspicuously absent in all press conferences this Micromax Cup is ‘momentum’. The schizophrenic performances of all three teams in Dambulla — crushing opponents one day, and being crushed themselves the next — has meant no team could claim whatever advantage momentum allegedly provides. The topsy-turvy league phase reaches its conclusion on Wednesday when India and New Zealand face off in an elimination match. Watch this exclusive match live online at Cric24 Media and watch Bollywood Movies and Desi TV Channels as bonus.
New Zealand’s inexperienced batting line-up remains their biggest concern. The relaxed format of the tournament and the unseasonal rain which washed out their match against Sri Lanka means their batsmen have, amazingly, not had a bat in the middle for a dozen days, which the captain Ross Taylor said is “going to give a little more anxiety than the actual game itself.”
Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s captaincy record of winning every tournament in Sri Lanka is also under threat after India’s batting failures in two matches. One heartening factor for Dhoni is the glimpses of form Yuvraj Singh showed during Sunday’s humiliating defeat. India have alternated between wins and losses in the previous six matches, a trend which Dhoni will hope extends for one more game.
Scott Styris is enjoying a run-filled year and his 168 one-day caps will be essential to a batting unit light in international exposure. He has found the conditions in Dambulla helpful to his steady bowling, finishing with 2 for 36 in ten overs in the previous match.
Dhoni is the top-ranked one-day batsman in the world, but has been part of two shambolic Indian collapses. With some of the youngsters in the middle order finding it hard to adjust to the seaming pitches in the tournament, the team is looking to their captain to deliver.
New Zealand welcome Martin Guptill back at the top of the order after missing a game due to injury. Their only fitness concern is Kane Williamson, who has a bicep injury and couldn’t bowl or throw on Monday. If Williamson is missing, Nathan McCullum’s place is likely to be secure.
India had no injury worries on the eve of the match. Despite the pummeling against Sri Lanka, it’s unlikely there will be too many changes to the side. Again, the decision will be on whether to bring in Virat Kohli at the expense of either Dinesh Karthik or Rohit Sharma.
TEAMS
NEW ZEALAND (probable): Martin Guptill, BJ Watling, Ross Taylor (captain), Kane Williamson or Peter Ingram, Scott Styris, Grant Elliott, Gareth Hopkins, Jacob Oram, Daryl Tuffey, Kyle Mills, Andy McKay or Nathan McCullum.
INDIA (probable): Virender Sehwag, Dinesh Karthik, Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Praveen Kumar, Pragyan Ojha, Ishant Sharma, Ashish Nehra.
