After losing the first game to Pakistan, team India has their task cut out in their second match of the T20 World Cup 2021. Pakistan has won 3 back-to-back games and it has made the equation for team India a little difficult. The IND vs NZ match is going to be crucial for both teams as both faced a defeat in their opening encounter against Pakistan.
The IND vs NZ match on Sunday is going to be quite intense as the battle will be for the second spot in Group 2. Team Pakistan will be at a little ease after winning 3 matches and almost securing a place in the Semi-Finals. It is noteworthy that India has never won an international T20 match against New Zealand.
Ahead of the IND vs NZ clash, Trent Boult has come up with a statement to which the Indian skipper Virat Kohli has given a perfect response. Boult in his statement said that in the IND vs NZ game, he will try and replicate how Shaheen Afridi bowled against India and took early wickets for his team.
Trent Boult warns India, Virat Kohli responds
Talking to ANI, Boult said, “I suppose it depends on when I get the ball, I am not sure what the plan is with what over certain bowlers are bowling. The way Shaheen bowled against India was amazing, but yeah India has quality batters, early wickets are the focus for us but we need to be nice and accurate of where we are trying to put the ball. Hopefully, it swings around a little bit and I can mirror what Shaheen did the other night.”
In reply to Boult’s statement, Kohli said, “We obviously will come up against some quality bowlers in this competition and the intensity which this tournament operates at is very different. So we know that we have played against these individuals, it is not something out of the ordinary that is going to come out way. If Trent says he wants to replicate what Shaheen did against us then he is motivated to do so and we need to be motivated to put pressure on him and counter that.”
It seems that the war of words has gotten intense before the game and it will be interesting to see how the Indian openers tackle the new ball. It is a must-win game for both the teams to move up the points table and have better chances at qualifying to the Semi-Final round. After the IND vs NZ contest, team India will play 3 more games against Afghanistan, Scotland, and Namibia.