The big game is here. IND vs NZ. This could well be a rehearsal for a semi-final or the final of the World Cup 2023 for both these teams: India and New Zealand both have won their first 4 matches in the tournament and are looking primed to reach the semi-finals.
The scars of the loss in the 2019 World Cup semi-final in Manchester – in which India were reeling at 5/3, the scorecard very famous now – are not yet healed among the fans.
Trent Boult, one of the architects of New Zealand’s win in that semi-final, has already said that he’s excited to take on India at the picturesque HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala. It’s going to be a blockbuster Sunday and the result, no matter in whose favor it falls, will give the fans plenty to talk about. For, this will also end the winning streak of one of these two teams.
IND vs NZ: When was the last time India defeated New Zealand in an ICC World Cup?
Excluding the World Test Championship, and talking about only ICC World Cups, India last defeated New Zealand 20 years ago, in the 2003 World Cup in Centurion.
New Zealand have defeated India in their last four matches in ICC white-ball tournaments. This includes the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2016 T20 World Cup, 2019 World Cup, and 2021 T20 World Cup. Also, New Zealand defeated India in the final of the WTC 2021.
So India’s last win over the Kiwis in the ICC World Cup came as far back as in 2003. In that game, fast bowler Zaheer Khan was the Man of the Match for his brilliant figures of 4/42. With the bat, Mohammad Kaif and Rahul Dravid scored half-centuries, taking India to a win by 7 wickets in their chase of the target of 147 runs.
IND vs NZ: overall record in World Cups:
Overall, New Zealand have 8 wins and only 3 losses against India in ICC World Cups (ODI and T20 WC).
Indian fans are really excited for today’s IND vs NZ match in Dharamsala, hoping that India can end this 20-year wait.
