Virat Kohli Acknowledges New Zealand’s Professionalism and Consistency Ahead of ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Clash

Indian cricketer Virat Kohli praises New Zealand’s professionalism and consistency as they prepare to face each other in the ICC World Cup.

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Indian batsman Virat Kohli has lauded New Zealand for their structured and professional approach to cricket, emphasizing the key role these qualities have played in their success. The two teams are gearing up for their upcoming clash in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.

New Zealand has maintained an unbeaten streak in the tournament, having faced tough opponents such as England, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and the Netherlands. India has also started the competition without a loss, but their unblemished record will be put to the test in the match against the BlackCaps on Sunday.

Speaking on the Star Sports program Follow the Blues, Kohli praised New Zealand’s professionalism and structured style of play.

“They are a very professional side and they are also a very structured side. They have a very structured way of playing their cricket, but within that structure, they are very consistent, and that’s been the reason for their consistent success. They are a very consistent side, and credit to the way they have played their cricket,” Kohli said.

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“When facing them, any team has to find ways to disrupt their rhythm and play to the best of their abilities. This will ultimately determine whether you can match their consistency or not. They are not a team that makes many mistakes, and that’s been their strength. At the international level, if you don’t make many mistakes, then you have a great chance of winning games more often than not. So, as I said, full credit to the way they have structured their cricket,” he added.

In their ODI World Cup history, these two teams have clashed on eight occasions, with New Zealand emerging victorious in five of those matches.

The Blackcaps’ recent performances in this prestigious event have boosted their confidence, with appearances in the finals of the 2015 and 2019 editions, along with a victory over India in the 2021 World Test Championship final.

“The way they have risen in world cricket in the last 6-7 years, as finalists in 2015 and 2019, and their victory over us in the ICC Test Championship final, so a lot of credit goes to them,” Kohli noted.

India and New Zealand are set to face each other at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in a highly anticipated showdown.