1. Match Analysis In Brief

2. KEY BETTING STATS

• India have won each of their last five ODI encounters against New Zealand which have taken place in India – To Win the Match
• Rohit Sharma has scored over 35.5 runs in each of his last three innings for India in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup – Batter Match Runs
• Lockie Ferguson has taken three wickets in each of his last two appearances for New Zealand, finishing as their top bowler on both occasions – Team – Top Bowler

BETTING ANALYSIS For INDIA

India will be forced to make a change to the side that defeated Bangladesh by seven wickets last time out. Hardik Pandya suffered an ankle injury in that game and the all-rounder won’t feature against New Zealand. Without a specialist all-rounder in reserve, India can either bolster their batting by including Suryakumar Yadav, or their bowling by adding Mohammed Shami, but face a struggle to find the balance that Hardik provides.

India has added 267 runs for the first wicket across their last three games, putting on 156, 23, and 88 against Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh respectively. Shubman Gill has slotted back into the side nicely after missing India’s first two matches with Dengue and scored a half-century vs the Tigers on Thursday. Back Gill and Rohit Sharma to record an opening partnership of over 36.5 runs here (1.90).

Skipper Rohit has been in scintillating form recently with scores of 131, 86, and 48 across his last three innings. In 21 ICC Cricket World Cup innings’ Rohit has accumulated 1243 runs including seven hundreds, the most in the tournament’s history. Consider stakes on Rohit to score both 50+ runs (2.25) and 100+ runs (5.00) via the ‘Batter Milestones’ market.

Virat Kohli is one of two Indian players who boasts more Icc Cricket World Cup runs across his career than Rohit, plundering 1244 runs following a brilliant 103 not out against Bangladesh most recently. Kohli remains the gold standard when it comes to batting in 50-over cricket and he is well worth backing to score over 37.5 match runs here (1.83) for what would be the fourth time in his last five innings. 

BETTING ANALYSIS For NEW ZEALAND

Although New Zealand captain Kane Williamson still has a chance of playing again in this World Cup, a fractured thumb which forced him to retire hurt on 78 against Bangladesh will keep the 33-year-old out of action here, after missing his side’s 149-run triumph over Afghanistan on Wednesday. Expect Will Young to continue opening following his second half-century of the tournament in that match, with Rachin Ravindra batting at three.

Conditions in Dharamsala should suit left-arm fast bowler Trent Boult, who is such a threat with the new ball. Two left-arm pacers have already profited from bowling on this ground in recent matches, Reece Topley taking 4/43 for England against Bangladesh and Marco Jansen 2/27 for South Africa vs Netherlands. Back Boult to continue the trend and pick up over 1.5 match wickets (2.10) against India.

As it stands though, Mitchell Santner is the only New Zealand bowler to have taken a double-figure number of wickets across the tournament so far, picking up 11 scalps in four matches with a bowling average of just 15.09. His canny spin could be crucial here against a formidable batting line-up, so consider backing Santner to finish as the Black Caps’ top bowler (5.00).

With the bat, Ravindra continues to impress. His only single-figure total came while opening, but the 23-year-old has racked up scores of 123 not out, 51, and 32 batting at number three. Assuming he bats in the same position vs India, invest in Ravindra to record over 25.5 runs (1.83) for what would be the fourth time in a row when batting in that spot.

CRICKET 8’S EXPERT PREDICTION

The two best performers over the course of the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup so far are set to face off in what should be an intriguing battle. India is the clear favorite, but New Zealand has won five of their nine previous ICC Cricket World Cup games against their opponents here and is in excellent form with both ball and bat. With that in mind, the value in backing an India win is low, especially with such a key player in Hardik Pandya being out injured.

Consistency is crucial when it comes to success and in Virat Kohli’s case, he looks to be getting even better as this competition goes on. In four innings so far, the India batter has plundered 259 runs at an average of 129.50, passing fifty on three occasions. Regardless of whether India is setting or chasing a target in Dharamsala, Kohli is good enough to compete against the new ball should he end up coming to the crease early on and it would be no surprise to see him once again reach that half-century milestone.

TIP

VIRAT KOHLI TO SCORE A FIFTY IN THE MATCH (2.20)

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