World Cup 2019: India vs New Zealand, a battle after 16 years

The 18th group stage match of the 2019 Cricket World Cup will witness a clash between two-time World Cup champions - India versus New Zealand. This will be the first time India will be facing against New Zealand in a World Cup match after 2003.

The two teams have played against each other on seven occasions in a World Cup tournament and four times the results went in favour of New Zealand. Interestingly, India was at the losing end in all three World Cup matches being hosted in England.

It is a crucial match for both the teams in with respect to the current edition of this grand championship which has been massively affected by rains. As many as three matches so far in the tournament have been washed out to rains. New Zealand is currently leading the chart winning all the three matches it has played so far and would want to retain its Numero Uno position even after facing India.

While India also remains unbeaten so far in the contest would want to climb up the points table.

The Data Intelligence Unit (DIU) of India Today group have analysed the squad of both the teams to see who could be the impact players for both teams for Thursday's contest and which bowler could be a threat to them looking at the past ODI records.

Virat Kohli is the most successful batsman for India against the New Zealanders. He has played 22 matches against them and has scored more than 1,300 runs with an average of 68.5 runs per match, including five centuries. While Rohit Sharma's record against them hasn't been that great. In 23 matches he has only 702 runs at an average of 35 runs per match.

Both Kohli and Sharma have gotten out to Tim Southee at most number of outings. Kohli and Sharma have been dismissed by Southee five times each. Other than Southee, Boult also got Kohli out twice and got Sharma's wicket on four occasions.

Boult also dismissed India's wicket-keeper batsman and former captain, MS Dhoni in two matches. Dhoni has played 27 matches against them, scoring 890 runs at an average of 49.44 runs. KL Rahul, who is most likely to open the innings along with Sharma in Thursday's match hasn't played any ODI against New Zealand so far.

Similarly, among Indian bowlers in the current squad, Md. Shami has a terrific record against New Zealanders. Shami has taken 20 wickets in nine matches he has played against them, at a decent average of 22.7.

Jasprit Bumrah, India's frontline pacer has faced New Zealand in seven matches and has struck 12 wickets at an average of 22.75. While Bhuvneshwar Kumar has taken 16 wickets in 13 matches he has played against them.

The New Zealand top order consists of Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor among others. For Guptill, Bhuvneshwar Kumar could be a threat as he has got him out on most of the occasions he had played for India. Kumar is followed my Indian allrounder Hardik Pandya and Shami, both got him out thrice in 29 matches he has played against India.

Shami could also be a threat to Ross Taylor, the most experienced batsman in the side. Taylor got out to Shami on four occasions in 31 matches he has played against India so far. Shami is followed by Pandya who got him out twice.

For Kane Williamson, there no one particular Indian bowler who has got him out the most. The New Zealand captain has been dismissed twice by Shami, Ravindra Jadeja and the two wrist spinners for India - Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav.

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