
Cricket enthusiasts are in for a thrilling encounter as India and New Zealand, the unbeaten sides in the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup, gear up to face each other in Dharamshala.
The last time these two teams met in an ODI World Cup, it turned into a gripping semi-final at Manchester in 2019. However, India suffered heartbreak, losing to New Zealand by 18 runs, despite valiant efforts from Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni.
India and New Zealand have clashed nine times in ODI World Cups, with New Zealand winning five times, India three times, and one match ending in a no-result. In the ongoing tournament, both teams have showcased their prowess, making them top contenders for the title.
Remarkably, India has not defeated New Zealand in an ODI World Cup since 2003. As the competition’s top two teams prepare for a highly anticipated clash, let’s revisit five memorable performances by Indian players in their victorious encounters with New Zealand in ODI World Cups.
- Kapil Dev’s 72 (1987 World Cup): Kapil Dev, the maestro of hard-hitting shots, rescued India from a precarious situation at 170-7 with his unbeaten 72 off 58 balls at Bengaluru. His partnership with Kiran More, who remained unbeaten on 42, powered India to 252-7, leading to a 16-run victory.
- Sunil Gavaskar’s 103 (1987 World Cup): In the same tournament, Sunil Gavaskar played a dazzling 103 not out in just 88 balls against New Zealand. This remarkable century, his first in ODI cricket, was instrumental in India’s successful chase of 222 in 32.1 overs.
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- Chetan Sharma’s Hat-trick (1987 World Cup): Chetan Sharma claimed the spotlight in the first innings by securing a hat-trick against New Zealand. He dismissed Ken Rutherford, Ian Smith, and Ewen Chatfield, becoming India’s first player to achieve a hat-trick in World Cup history.
- Zaheer Khan’s 4 Wickets (2003 World Cup): Zaheer Khan delivered a spectacular bowling performance, taking four crucial wickets. He removed Craig McMillian and Nathan Astle early, then returned to dismiss Brendon McCullum and Chris Harris in quick succession. His 4 wickets for 42 runs contributed to New Zealand’s total of 146 all out.
- Kaif-Dravid’s Century Partnership (2003 World Cup): In the same match featuring Zaheer Khan’s brilliance, Mohammed Kaif and Rahul Dravid built a vital partnership of 100 runs in 180 balls. After a shaky start from the top order, Kaif scored 68 runs from 129 balls, and Dravid contributed 53 runs from 89 balls, leading India to a seven-wicket victory with nearly ten overs to spare.
The upcoming India-New Zealand clash in the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup will be available for live viewing on Disney+ Hotstar’s mobile platform.