#WT20 - Ind v NZ - Group 2 Opener pits heartthrobs vs favorites

#WT20
#Ind v #NZ
Group 2 Match
VCA Ground, Nagpur
15th Mar 2016

The serious end of #WT20 starts today with hearthobs Kiwis take on tournament favorites India in a Group 2 game at Nagpur. The odds are heavily stocked in favor of India with their form, balance and spin. They are the team to beat at this T20 World Cup.

Having said that, the Kiwis have come on the back of some really excellent performances vs Australia and will look to surprise the hosts with a mighty challenge. Their batting has the firepower to blast bowling attacks away and bowlers can run through batting lineups. Coupled to that their fielding is exemplary and could eventually be the deciding factor in this game.

Captain Kane Williamson will need to lead their team from the front to tackle the Indian spinners (Ashwin, Jadeja, Harchajan, etc). There in lies their Achilles Heel and India will look to take full advantage on that front. In absence of the just retired great Brendon McCullum (#Baz), Guptill, Taylor, Anderson, Elliott will have to bat out of their skin to pose challenge to this renewed India bowling lineup led by veteran Ashish Nehra and slinger boy Jasprit Bumrah (who has pleasantly surprised everyone with his yorkers and death bowling).

India on the other hand look balanced both with the ball and bat. The batting top order has been batting like a dream (Dhawan, Rohit and Virat) and thats helping build or chase large totals easily. The middle order (though low on practice due to the top order show) including Yuvraj, Raina, Dhoni can single handedly win games for their side. Rahane's solidity and Jadeja's all round ability make this a very formidable unit.

So, what will happen at Nagpur?
India's spin or Kiws' agility
India's top order or NZ middle order?

Looks interesting.
Let the #Wt20 begin!!

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Aus v Ind (3rd Test Match, Nagpur, 2004)

Venue: VCA Stadium, Nagpur

History made!! Australia win a test series in India after 35 years!
Magnificent achievement by the men in baggy green in 2004.

1-0 up in the series and a miraculous escape at Chennai ensured Australia could go all out for a win in this match and win the #FinalFrontier (famous comments by Steve Waugh)

Winning the toss and electing to bat first, the Aussies scored 398 thanks a super hundred from #DamienMartyn, their saviour hero from Chennai in the previous test match. He was ably supported by Clarke (91) and Lehmann (70).

When India batted, it went downhill for them right from the start. #JasonGillespie's 5-for with support from #Mcgrath and #Warne ensured Australia gained a very big 200+ lead in the first innings.

Not enforcing a follow-on (still healing their wounds from the Kolkata classic of 2001), Aussies decided to bat a second time and quickly put on 329/5 on board before declaring. Once again it was Martyn along with #Katich and #Clarke that scored bulk of the runs.

Chasing 500+, India faltered yet again and were skittled out for 200. Jason Gillespie, once gain, the tormentor in chief. A massive win by 342 runs. Certainly not a classic by cricketing standards but the occasion of winning a the final frontier after 35 years made this occasion very special and emotional for the Aussies.

Very rightly, #Gilchrist (the stand-in captain for injured Ponting) dedicated this victory to #Tugga (Steve Waugh's pet name) who gave Aussies that vision and drive to win in India (until few years before that series in the sub-continents were not taken seriously and they used to be number fillers).

The India-Australia rivalry changed all that .... forever!!!