Follow UsAfter losing to the Kiwi side in the 2019 World Cup semi-final, India couldn’t break that curse in the 2021 T20 World Cup and was subsequently ruled out. However, things look very different this time around. With four victories in four games each, India and New Zealand have found themselves hogging the top two spots on the points table in the 2023 World Cup, and tomorrow will be a true test of their character.
In Dharamsala, with very different kinds of conditions on offer, India will have to be at their very best in order to avoid their bogey team curse against New Zealand. But when Tom Latham, who would once again stand in for injured Kane Williamson, was asked about the secret sauce behind their success in World Cups, Latham put it down to their ability to stick to the game plan for a long period of time, but he understands the kind of challenge that India may possess.
“From our consistency over World Cups, it's always been for us is about trying to play our brand of cricket as best we can, for us sticking to our game plan and trying to do that for long periods of time and stay in the game for as long as possible has sort of been the key to what we've done. Obviously, the last two ODI World Cups have been in Australia and England where conditions are reasonably similar to back home, whereas this one's obviously completely different where conditions are completely different,” Latham said in the pre-match press conference.
“So again, adapting as much as we can has been a massive thing that we talk about and doing that as quick as possible, and if we can do that, then hopefully that gives ourselves a good chance.
“And obviously on the Indian side, yeah, obviously missing Hardik, which is obviously a key member with the balance of their side. So for us it's just trying to adapt to their team, whatever that may be. That's out of our control, but our preparation will prepare for anyone or for all of their team who are going to play, and we'll just wait and see what they come up with tomorrow.”
New Zealand were put under pressure by Afghanistan in Chennai when the Asian side reduced them to 110/5, and it took a valiant takedown by skipper Latham for them to reach a commendable total. Latham stated that it was very satisfying for the team to be put in such a situation and still come out of it.
“It was obviously satisfying to be put under pressure. Obviously, throughout the start of the innings, we were on top, and then there was a period of the game were Afghanistan put us under a lot of pressure. And for us to overcome that sort of tough period, just to absorb a little bit of pressure, and then once we felt the time was right, put a bit of pressure back on them. And I guess to get the score that we did from the position we're in was really satisfying.
“So, if we're faced with that situation tomorrow, whoever it may be, then if we're able to absorb a bit of pressure and then finally put it back on the Indian team, whether that be with bat and ball, that's going to be really important. So just trying to find the right times to do that. And I guess that comes down to the communication between the team and whether what they say is the right thing to do at the right time,” Latham added.