T20 World Cup 2021: New Zealand Are Not A Gun T20 Side, Their Batting Isn't That Strong – Aakash Chopra

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra believes that Kane Williamson’s New Zealand are not a gun “T20 side”, and their batting unit is not very strong.

Kane Williamson-led New Zealand have won 3 out of 4 games in the Super 12 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, and in their last match, they will lock horn with Afghanistan later today at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium.

If the Blackcaps win the game, they can easily reach 8 points and make it to the semi-finals and Afghanistan and India will be eliminated. However, if they lose, there will be a three-way tie between the teams, and the team with a better net run-rate will join England, Australia and Pakistan in the semi-finals.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said England won’t spare New Zealand if they qualify for the semi-finals.

“They are like five fingers combined to make a fist. They are not a gun T20 side, let’s be honest… Their batting isn’t that strong. If they win here and reach the semifinals, they’ll qualify at No.2 (in Group 2) and England will chew them up. England won’t spare them at all,” he asserted.

Kane Williamson Will Be Under Massive Pressure For This Game – Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra further added that the Kane Williamson-led side will be free from any net run rate pressure, and they just have to play disciplined cricket to win the match. Chopra also said that Kane Williamson will be under tremendous pressure because Kiwis have to counter the spin attack, and Williamson is the man team will look up to.

“But then the fact is they have defeated India and if they defeat Afghanistan, which is the more likely outcome, then they’ll surely go ahead. If they fail in the semifinals, then so be it. At least they got there. So the batting unit isn’t a 200-scoring one.

“And they won’t be thinking about net run rate because they just have to win via disciplined cricket which they always do. Kane Williamson will be under massive pressure for this game because if they have to win, they’ll have to win against spin. So Kane is the man you’ll look up to,” he stated.

Talking about the Blackcaps bowling attack, which consists of 3 frontline Pacers Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Adam Milne and two spinners Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi.

“Their bowling is strong. Ish Sodhi will do well on this big ground. And if the pitch is a turner, then Santner and Ish Sodhi will be better bowlers too. The three fast-bowlers are decent. Southee has been bowling really well.

“We don’t see him doing well in T20s but he has been the game changer in the middle overs. Trent Boult is doing well and I feel he’ll get one of the Afghanistan openers out.

“He’s a smart operator… Adam Milne has pace but they are missing Lockie Ferguson. If he had been there, this would have been an every more fearsome team,” Aakash Chopra said.

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