India vs New Zealand 2017-18

As India’s home international season is already underway in full swing, the hosts have done a commendable job against Australia. With the tour being done and dusted, India will now shift their focus to the visiting New Zealand, against whom they would be playing a six-match limited-overs series, involving three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). New Zealand had visited India last year at this very same time, when they played three Tests and five ODIs. New Zealand were whitewashed in the Tests 0-3, while the also lost the ODI series 2-3. Therefore, redemption would certainly be on New Zealand’s mind this time, while India would look to take ahead their dominance.

The tour is scheduled to start on October 17, with a warm-up 50-over match against Board President’s XI at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, followed by another match on October 19 at the same venue. The team then plays its first ODI at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on October 22, followed by the second ODI on October 25 at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune, while the series ends with the third and final ODI on October 29 at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. The teams then switch gears to the shortest format of the game and play their first T20I on November 1 at the Feroz Shah Kotla Ground in Delhi, followed by the second T20I on November 4 at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot, while the tour ends with the third and final T20I on November 7 at the newly built Greenfield International Stadium in Trivandrum.

As said above, New Zealand had a forgettable performance in the previous tour last year. In the ODI series, it Was opener Tom Latham, who was the highest run-scorer, with 244 runs from the five matches, at an average of 61 and a strike rate of 89, including a couple of f half-centuries. As for their bowling, it was Tim Southee, who finished as the most wicket-taker with seven wickets from the five games, at an average of 37 and an economy of five, while his best spell was 3 for 40.

Considering New Zealand’s last ODI appearance, it was back in June 2017 during the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 in England, where they were ousted in the group stage. Therefore, New Zealand certainly have a point to prove. Skipper Kane Williamson was the highest run-scorer for the side with 244 runs in three matches, at an average of 81 and a strike rate of 92, including a century and a couple of half-centuries. In bowling, it was Adam Milne, who claimed the most, six wickets in three matches, at an average of 24 and an economy of seven, while his best spell was 3 for 79.

New Zealand’s last T20I series was back in February against South Africa at home, which they too ended up on a losing note. As for their batting, Tom Bruce scored the most runs of 33, along with a strike rate of 122. In the bowling, it was Trent Boult and Colin de Grandhomme who claimed a couple of wickets each. Therefore, certainly not impressive figures for New Zealand as they have a grave and uphill task to restrict India at home.

As for India, they had a fruitful time against New Zealand in 2016-17. Considering their performance in the ODI series, Virat Kohli was the highest run-scorer with 358 runs in the five matches, at an average of 119 and a strike rate of 101, including a century and a couple of half-centuries. As for their bowling, Amit Mishra stole the show with 15 wickets from the five games, at an average of 14 and an economy of five, while his best spell was 5 for 18.

As for India's performance in the previous series against Australia, India clearly dominated the Aussies as they won the ODI series convincingly, by a margin of 4-1. It was Rohit Sharma, who finished as the most run scorer, scoring 296 runs from the five matches, at an average of 59 and a strike rate of 104, including a century and a couple of half-centuries. As for India's bowling, it was chinaman spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who claimed seven wickets form the five games, at an average of 30 and an economy of just above six, while his best spell was 3 for 54, which included his maiden hat-trick in ODI cricket.

In the T20Is, the series was held up for an unfortunate tie of 1-1, after the third and final T20I at Hyderabad was washed out. Nevertheless, it was Kedar Jadhav who scored the most runs of 27 from the two ties, at an average of 27 and a strike rate of 100. As for the bowling, Jasprit Bumrah was had the most wickets with three scalps, at an average of 14 and an economy of seven, while his best spell was 2 for 17.

Therefore, the momentum certainly is in favour of India as they would not just look to win the series this time, but also inflict a whitewash in both the series. Can New Zealand come up with something extra-ordinary and cause an upset to the Indians, which would be a sweet redemption to the Kiwis; or shall India rub salt to the already open wounds of the Kiwis. Catch it all from October 22.

Schedule

Tue, Nov 7, 2017 ( 19:00 IST )

India vs New Zealand, Live Cricket Score, 3rd T20I match
at Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram
Live Cricket Score, 3rd T20I match

India beat New Zealand by 6 runs
Sat, Nov 4, 2017 ( 19:00 IST )

India vs New Zealand, Live Cricket Score, 2nd T20I match
at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot
Live Cricket Score, 2nd T20I match

New Zealand beat India by 40 runs
Wed, Nov 1, 2017 ( 19:00 IST )

India vs New Zealand, Live Cricket Score, 1st T20I match
at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Live Cricket Score, 1st T20I match

India beat New Zealand by 53 runs

FEATURES

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This was India's first T20I series win against New Zealand.
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India won the third and final T20I match by 6 runs.
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India won their first-ever bilateral series over New Zealand in T20Is.

Martin Guptill surpasses Tillakaratne Dilshan; nears Virat Kohli in T20Is
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Martin Guptill is only behind Virat Kohli (1,956) and Brendon McCullum (2,140).
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New Zealand Cricket have rested Kane Williamson and Tim Southee from 2nd and 3rd ODIs against West Indies.
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CricketCountry Staff November 13, 2017 9:45 PM IST
Yuzvendra Chahal was the star performer in the limited overs versus New Zealand.

Taylor thanks NZ teammates for helping him tackle Twitter banter with Sehwag
Asian News International November 9, 2017 3:33 PM IST
Ross Taylor has unveiled the names of people who helped him with Hindi to tackle the Twitter banter with Virender Sehwag.
PHOTO: Taylor's amusing reaction to Sehwag's 'darji' comment
Asian News International November 7, 2017 3:43 PM IST
Virender Sehwag was at the receiving end of the banter when Ross Taylor replied to his humorous tweet in Hindi.
In pictures: New Zealand beat India by 40 runs in 2nd T20I
CricketCountry Staff November 6, 2017 11:14 AM IST
New Zealand beat India in the second ODI, squaring the three-match series.
Watch Rohit Sharma’s incredible athleticism to send back Colin Munro
CricketCountry Staff November 8, 2017 1:59 PM IST
It was not the most stunning of catches, but the way Rohit Sharma threw the ball in the air, in jubilation, made it look outrageously
Virat Kohli turns 29; celebrates birthday with India teammates
Asian News International November 5, 2017 9:41 AM IST
Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli celebrated his 29th birthday with his teammates after the 2nd ODI against New Zealand in Rajkot on Sunday.
Rohit-Kohli's centuries, visitor's fight back and other video highlights
Ayush Gupta October 30, 2017 9:44 AM IST
India won the final ODI at Kanpur by 6 runs against New Zealand.