ICC World Cup 2019: India vs New Zealand Warm-Up Match - Toss Report

Indian captain Virat Kohli won the toss and decided to bat first. India will begin their World Cup preparation with the warm-up against New Zealand at Kennington Oval, London. Virat Kohli’s men will like to get acclimatise to the English conditions. Men in Blue will play their second warm-up match against Bangladesh at Sophia Gardens on 28th May.

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Meanwhile, India will begin their World Cup campaign against South Africa at the Rose Bowl, Southampton on 5th June. Thus, the Virat Kohli’s men will like to charge themselves in the warm-up match against the Kiwis.

New Zealand and India will begin their World Cup preparation.

On the other hand, this would also be the first warm-up match for the Blackcaps, who had finished as the runners-up. Hence, Kane Williamson led side will like to get good practice under their belt.

Here are the playing squads of both the teams:

New Zealand: Colin Munro, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson(c), Tom Blundell(w), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Colin de Grandhomme, Ish Sodhi.

India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli(c), MS Dhoni(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Lokesh Rahul, Dinesh Karthik, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal.

Virat Kohli said at the toss, “Looks like a pitch with some grass on it and you want to put yourself in tough situations in warm-up games. Was overcast a while back, but now it’s sunny again,” says Virat Kohli. “A little bit of seam would be good throughout the game for bowlers to get into a zone and batsmen to play a compact inning. The warm-up games give you the opportunity for match practice, which is the best kind of practice. Short and sharp. Even if you’re content getting to fifty, and walk off, then that’s good. Vijay got hit in the nets yesterday, so he won’t be playing, Kedar isn’t playing either. We’re playing with 13”

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Kane Williamson said at the toss, “Hopefully it offers a bit first up. The surface will be a bit demanding for the top order but that’s what its all about, getting in some match practice and getting into the main competition. It’s been our off-season. Guys are really excited now to get back into the one-day mode against one of the stronger sides. [Tom Latham has a finger issue] We’ll be using 13 as well, in all different roles. Matt Henry and Tom Latham aren’t playing today”

Meanwhile, India had faced an injury scare as all-rounder Vijay Shankar was hit on the hand from the bouncer of Khaleel Ahmed. Thus, Vijay Shankar will not play in the warm-up match. Moreover, Shikhar Dhawan had also taken a blow to the helmet and he was seen bleeding from the lips.

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— BCCI (@BCCI) May 25, 2019