India to play New Zealand without Hardik Pandya in crucial World Cup match

With their World Cup campaign resuming on Sunday with a titanic match against an ambitious New Zealand, a frighteningly dominant India will be flying into the hilly terrain without their balancing figure Hardik Pandya.

Pandya was forced to miss the crucial match against the Kiwis, who are going for their first victory, due to an unforeseen ankle injury, while the hosts are desperately trying to end their long trophy curse in ICC competitions.

The flashy all-rounder's absence has prompted India to change a strategy that has led to four straight comfortable victories, which has left their opponents uneasy and looking for methods to halt the rampaging hosts.

The Indians will take the field against the New Zealanders after making some adjustments to their combination and reevaluating their strategy.

The injury to Pandya has thrown off the balance of the team since India lacks a suitable alternative. When Pandya injured his left ankle while attempting to stop the ball on his follow-through during their game against Bangladesh in Pune, these ideas must have entered the minds of the men who mattered.

The all-around superstar was told to take it easy and didn't go to Dharamsala. Pandya is currently being evaluated by the BCCI medical staff, but he will likely join the team in Lucknow prior to the match against England next week.

Mohammed Shami, a seamer who hasn't yet participated in a World Cup match, is currently a lock for a spot in the starting XI because the local surface is anticipated to somewhat favor fast bowlers.

Additionally, Suryakumar Yadav enters the fray right away to strengthen the batting. However, it is still unknown who India may replace with the other player in their effort to achieve the ideal balance.

Given the circumstances, Shami would be a better fit just because of his pace and swing in these circumstances, thus the average Shardul Thakur should be fired.

India also has Ravichandran Ashwin as a bat and ball option, although it is unclear whether his off-spin will be useful in this situation.

Rohit, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Shubman Gill are just a few of the Indian batting's high-scoring players.

After his 50 against Bangladesh, Young Gill will like to make himself known once more.

With Jasprit Bumrah leading the attack from the front with the new ball and Kuldeep Yadav destroying sides with his cunning in the middle overs, the Indians have performed admirably in the bowling department.

Shami would give the pace unit a bit more sting if included, and Mohammed Siraj has also lived up to expectations.

In the World Cup, New Zealand has an advantage over India based only on records.

New Zealand is a team that India has failed to beat in previous iterations of the premier event, making it one of their biggest challenges thus far in the competition.

The ODI World Cup has featured nine matches between India and New Zealand. India has only triumphed in three of these games, while New Zealand has won five of them, with one game being abandoned.

Both India and New Zealand have four wins in as many games and are undefeated thus far in the competition, but the Kiwis are in first place on the points table due to a higher net run rate.

Therefore, a victory on Sunday would advance both teams closer to the playoffs.

Kane Williamson, the Kiwis' captain, will not be playing after breaking his thumb against Bangladesh. He might not be able to play again until the playoffs, if they advance that far.

Williamson's absence hasn't had much of an impact on the Kiwis, though, as Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, and Daryl Mithcell all share the batting load.

Additionally, Will Young has been a nice addition in the opening position.

New Zealand has a strong bowling assault despite the absence of veteran Tim Southee, who is warming the bench.

Mitchell Santner, a left-arm spinner, is New Zealand's go-to player because he can take wickets while also limiting runs. With 11 kills from four games, he currently holds the tournament record for most wickets taken.

Additionally, the Kiwis have Trent Boult, Matt Henry, and Lockie Fergusson in their team, and the trio can demolish any batting order on its best day. Boult, meanwhile, is not at his best right now and will be looking to improve against India.

groups (from)

India: Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, and Mohammed Shami.

Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (vc & wk), Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, and Will Young are the New Zealand players.

The match begins at 2:00.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Press Time staff and has been published from a syndicated feed