T20 World Cup 2021, Match 28: India vs New Zealand – Toss Report

Published - 31 Oct 2021, 07:46 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:00 AM

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Just like the previous Sunday, fans will get to witness a bumper clash tonight also as India and New Zealand lock horns in Dubai for Match 28 of the T20 World Cup.

Surprisingly, while Pakistan have played three games – and won all three – India haven’t featured in the tournament this week at all. They will be up against New Zealand, who also lost their first match to Babar Azam’s side.

With Pakistan having one foot in the semi-final, and the other games being against Afghanistan, Scotland, and Namibia, tonight’s encounter is being branded as a virtual quarter-final.

Having freshened up in the 6-day break, India hope for both their openers to survive the Kiwi new-ball attack, and the bowling to come good. New Zealand, meanwhile, will feel confident seeing India as their next opponent, a team they have brushed aside in every ICC tournament match since 2003 (including the 2019 World Cup semi-final and the WTC final earlier this year.)

Hardik Pandya is fit and available for the game, skipper Virat Kohli confirmed, after he sustained a shoulder blow while batting against Shaheen Afridi. For the Kiwis, speedster Adam Milne has been drafted into the squad as Lockie Ferguson’s replacement while Martin Guptill returned to training after suffering a bruised toe when he was hit with a yorker by Haris Rauf.