India and New Zealand locked horns with each other in match 28 of the T20 World Cup 2021 edition, on Sunday (October 31). Both sides were in a tough spot after losing their respective Super 12 opening fixtures and had to win to progress ahead. In the marquee face-off, Virat Kohli-led Team India were thrashed by the Kiwis as the Black Caps maintained their ICC dominance versus the Men in Blue.

While the one-time winners India aren't out of contention for the semi-finals spot, they surely have their back against the wall at the moment with two successive losses. After Trent Boult's 3-fer and Ish Sodhi's 2 for 17 restricted India to 110/7, the Kiwis chased down the score with 8 wickets and 33 balls to spare. Courtesy this win, New Zealand have once again shown that they have the knack of beating big teams in ICC events despite not being termed as one of the strongest contenders in showpiece events.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/will-be-a-miracle-to-see-them-qualify-shahid-afridi-predicts-indias-fortunes-after-nz-loss-in-t20-wc-425850">Will be a miracle to see them qualify: Shahid Afridi predicts India's fortunes after NZ loss in T20 WC</a>

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has lavished praise on the underrated Kiwis. After the India clash, Vaughan wrote on Twitter, "No one will admit it including themselves as they are so humble but #NZ are pound for pound the best all format Cricket team in the World at the moment …"

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No one will admit it including themselves as they are so humble but <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NZ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NZ</a> are pound for pound the best all format Cricket team in the World at the moment … <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Fact?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Fact</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/T20WorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#T20WorldCup</a>
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelVaughan/status/1454856694304059393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2021</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sometimes-you-need-a-break-jasprit-bumrah-feels-bubble-fatigue-behind-team-indias-t20-wc-struggles-425804">'Sometimes you need a break: Jasprit Bumrah feels bubble-fatigue behind Team India's T20 WC struggles</a>

For the unversed, New Zealand are the No. 1 ranked side in Tests and ODIs and occupy the fourth spot in ICC T20I rankings. They have appeared in the ODI World Cup final on successive editions, in 2015 and 2019, won the inaugural edition of the ICC Test Championship whereas were also the semi-finalists in the 2016 T20 WC.&nbsp;

How far will the Black Caps go this time around? Only time will tell...

India and New Zealand locked horns with each other in match 28 of the T20 World Cup 2021 edition, on Sunday (October 31). Both sides were in a tough spot after losing their respective Super 12 opening fixtures and had to win to progress ahead.

India and New Zealand locked horns with each other in match 28 of the T20 World Cup 2021 edition, on Sunday (October 31). Both sides were in a tough spot after losing their respective Super 12 opening fixtures and had to win to progress ahead. In the marquee face-off, Virat Kohli-led Team India were thrashed by the Kiwis as the Black Caps maintained their ICC dominance versus the Men in Blue. While the one-time winners India aren't out of contention for the semi-finals spot, they surely have their back against the wall at the moment with two successive losses. After Trent Boult's 3-fer and Ish Sodhi's 2 for 17 restricted India to 110/7, the Kiwis chased down the score with 8 wickets and 33 balls to spare. Courtesy this win, New Zealand have once again shown that they have the knack of beating big teams in ICC events despite not being termed as one of the strongest contenders in showpiece events. ALSO READ | Will be a miracle to see them qualify: Shahid Afridi predicts India's fortunes after NZ loss in T20 WC Former England captain Michael Vaughan has lavished praise on the underrated Kiwis. After the India clash, Vaughan wrote on Twitter, "No one will admit it including themselves as they are so humble but #NZ are pound for pound the best all format Cricket team in the World at the moment …" No one will admit it including themselves as they are so humble but #NZ are pound for pound the best all format Cricket team in the World at the moment … #Fact #T20WorldCup — Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) October 31, 2021 × ALSO READ | 'Sometimes you need a break: Jasprit Bumrah feels bubble-fatigue behind Team India's T20 WC struggles For the unversed, New Zealand are the No. 1 ranked side in Tests and ODIs and occupy the fourth spot in ICC T20I rankings. They have appeared in the ODI World Cup final on successive editions, in 2015 and 2019, won the inaugural edition of the ICC Test Championship whereas were also the semi-finalists in the 2016 T20 WC. How far will the Black Caps go this time around? Only time will tell...

'Best all-format team' - Michael Vaughan lavishes huge praise on New Zealand after India win in T20 WC

After India shockingly lost to Pakistan in their Super 12 opening fixture in the T20 World Cup 2021 edition, Virat Kohli-led Men in Blue were expected to comeback hard against New Zealand, their second opposition in the marquee event.

India and New Zealand locked horns with each other on Sunday evening (October 31), at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai as many expected the one-time winners to move past the Black Caps. However, India do not have a good record versus the Kiwis in ICC events and it once again got exposed as Kohli &amp; Co. lost to Kane Williamson-led Black Caps by 8 wickets at Dubai.

Being asked to bat first, India managed a below-par 110/7 as none of their batters got going whereas Trent Boult and Ish Sodhi starred for Kiwis with the ball. In reply, New Zealand ended the match with 8 wickets and 33 balls to spare. With this, India have&nbsp;only a solitary victory over the New Zealanders in ICC events, which came during&nbsp;the 2003 ODI World Cup, in South Africa.

After the match, former Pakistan all-rounder and captain Shahid Afridi has made a bold claim on India's chances going ahead. He tweeted saying, "India still have an outside chance of qualifying for semis but with how they have played their two big games in the event, it will be nothing but a miracle to see them qualify. @T20WorldCup."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sometimes-you-need-a-break-jasprit-bumrah-feels-bubble-fatigue-behind-team-indias-t20-wc-struggles-425804">'Sometimes you need a break: Jasprit Bumrah feels bubble-fatigue behind Team India's T20 WC struggles</a>

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India still have an outside chance of qualifying for semis but with how they have played their two big games in the event, it will be nothing but a miracle to see them qualify. <a href="https://twitter.com/T20WorldCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@T20WorldCup</a>
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/1454858664075046914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2021</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-sl-t20-world-cup-2021-prediction-who-will-win-todays-match-between-england-and-sri-lanka-425830">ENG vs SL, T20 World Cup 2021 prediction: Who will win today's match between England and Sri Lanka?</a>

At the post-match presentation, Kohli said, "To be brutal upfront, I don't think we were brave enough with bat/ball. We obviously didn't have much to play with the ball. We were just not brave enough in our body language when we entered the field and NZ had better intensity, body language. Every time we took a chance, we lost a wicket. It's most often a result of hesitation of whether you should go for a shot or not. When you play for India, there are loads of expectations. We are watched, people come to the stadium and everyone who plays for India needs to embrace that and cope with it. We haven't done that in these two games, and that's why we haven't won."

India need to win their next game, versus Afghanistan (November 3), at Abu Dhabi as another defeat will lead to their early exit from the marquee tournament.

After India shockingly lost to Pakistan in their Super 12 opening fixture in the T20 World Cup 2021 edition, Virat Kohli-led Men in Blue were expected to comeback hard against New Zealand, their second opposition in the marquee event.

After India shockingly lost to Pakistan in their Super 12 opening fixture in the T20 World Cup 2021 edition, Virat Kohli-led Men in Blue were expected to comeback hard against New Zealand, their second opposition in the marquee event. India and New Zealand locked horns with each other on Sunday evening (October 31), at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai as many expected the one-time winners to move past the Black Caps. However, India do not have a good record versus the Kiwis in ICC events and it once again got exposed as Kohli & Co. lost to Kane Williamson-led Black Caps by 8 wickets at Dubai. Being asked to bat first, India managed a below-par 110/7 as none of their batters got going whereas Trent Boult and Ish Sodhi starred for Kiwis with the ball. In reply, New Zealand ended the match with 8 wickets and 33 balls to spare. With this, India have only a solitary victory over the New Zealanders in ICC events, which came during the 2003 ODI World Cup, in South Africa. After the match, former Pakistan all-rounder and captain Shahid Afridi has made a bold claim on India's chances going ahead. He tweeted saying, "India still have an outside chance of qualifying for semis but with how they have played their two big games in the event, it will be nothing but a miracle to see them qualify. @T20WorldCup." ALSO READ | 'Sometimes you need a break: Jasprit Bumrah feels bubble-fatigue behind Team India's T20 WC struggles India still have an outside chance of qualifying for semis but with how they have played their two big games in the event, it will be nothing but a miracle to see them qualify. @T20WorldCup — Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) October 31, 2021 × ALSO READ | ENG vs SL, T20 World Cup 2021 prediction: Who will win today's match between England and Sri Lanka? At the post-match presentation, Kohli said, "To be brutal upfront, I don't think we were brave enough with bat/ball. We obviously didn't have much to play with the ball. We were just not brave enough in our body language when we entered the field and NZ had better intensity, body language. Every time we took a chance, we lost a wicket. It's most often a result of hesitation of whether you should go for a shot or not. When you play for India, there are loads of expectations. We are watched, people come to the stadium and everyone who plays for India needs to embrace that and cope with it. We haven't done that in these two games, and that's why we haven't won." India need to win their next game, versus Afghanistan (November 3), at Abu Dhabi as another defeat will lead to their early exit from the marquee tournament.

Will be a miracle to see them qualify: Shahid Afridi predicts India's fortunes after NZ loss in T20 WC

Match 29 of the ICC T20 Men's World Cup will see the 2016 runners-up and favourites Eoin Morgan-led England take on the inexperienced Dasun Shanaka-led Sri Lanka in Pool A. While the one-time winners England are coming into this game with a thrashing of Australia, Sri Lanka will feel gutted after having missed out a chance to beat South Africa in a thrilling encounter last week.

Morgan &amp; Co. had started their campaign in the marquee tournament with a loss in their first warm-up game. However, they have stood tall since then and are marching towards the semi-finals, most likely to end up with the top-spot in Pool A after three back-to-back wins. On the other hand, Sri Lanka defeated Bangladesh by 5 wickets in a tense-chase in their opening fixture in the main draw, however, their inexperience and rustiness got exposed versus Australia and South Africa.&nbsp;

Given that another win will confirm their semi-final qualification, England will come hard against the Lankans. On the other hand, Sri Lanka are more used to conditions in Sharjah, having already played three games, and also can pose some threat to the English line-up if they win the toss and opt to bowl first. For the unversed, England haven't batted first and set a target in Super 12 so far.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sometimes-you-need-a-break-jasprit-bumrah-feels-bubble-fatigue-behind-team-indias-t20-wc-struggles-425804">'Sometimes you need a break: Jasprit Bumrah feels bubble-fatigue behind Team India's T20 WC struggles</a>

Match prediction for England-Sri Lanka T20 WC encounter:&nbsp;The pitch at Sharjah has been favouring the spinners due to its low bounce. While there hasn't been much turn on display, expect another 140-150-plus total on cards. While England will like to go hard if they chase a modest target, it will be interesting to see how they approach with the ball in the second-half (if the situation arise).

England are overwhelming favourites. Though one cannot rule out Sri Lanka's tendency to surprise any opposition on their day, they will have to be on their toes to beat Morgan &amp; Co.

Match 29 of the ICC T20 Men's World Cup will see the 2016 runners-up and favourites Eoin Morgan-led England take on the inexperienced Dasun Shanaka-led Sri Lanka in Pool A.

Match 29 of the ICC T20 Men's World Cup will see the 2016 runners-up and favourites Eoin Morgan-led England take on the inexperienced Dasun Shanaka-led Sri Lanka in Pool A. While the one-time winners England are coming into this game with a thrashing of Australia, Sri Lanka will feel gutted after having missed out a chance to beat South Africa in a thrilling encounter last week. Morgan & Co. had started their campaign in the marquee tournament with a loss in their first warm-up game. However, they have stood tall since then and are marching towards the semi-finals, most likely to end up with the top-spot in Pool A after three back-to-back wins. On the other hand, Sri Lanka defeated Bangladesh by 5 wickets in a tense-chase in their opening fixture in the main draw, however, their inexperience and rustiness got exposed versus Australia and South Africa. Given that another win will confirm their semi-final qualification, England will come hard against the Lankans. On the other hand, Sri Lanka are more used to conditions in Sharjah, having already played three games, and also can pose some threat to the English line-up if they win the toss and opt to bowl first. For the unversed, England haven't batted first and set a target in Super 12 so far. ALSO READ | 'Sometimes you need a break: Jasprit Bumrah feels bubble-fatigue behind Team India's T20 WC struggles Match prediction for England-Sri Lanka T20 WC encounter: The pitch at Sharjah has been favouring the spinners due to its low bounce. While there hasn't been much turn on display, expect another 140-150-plus total on cards. While England will like to go hard if they chase a modest target, it will be interesting to see how they approach with the ball in the second-half (if the situation arise). England are overwhelming favourites. Though one cannot rule out Sri Lanka's tendency to surprise any opposition on their day, they will have to be on their toes to beat Morgan & Co.

ENG vs SL, T20 World Cup 2021 prediction: Who will win today's match between England and Sri Lanka?

The Indian cricket team is facing criticism and bashing from all corners after facing a shambolic eight-wicket defeat at the hands of New Zealand in their second Super 12 clash of the T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). While players are being trolled on social media, questions have been raised about the team's intent and body language in what was a disappointing outing for the Men in Blue against the Kiwis.

Asked to bat first in the must-win game, India got off to a stuttering start as they lost opener Ishan Kishan (3) cheaply before KL Rahul (18) and Rohit Sharma (14) also departed in quick succession. Captain Kohli too had an off day as he could only manage 9 runs off 17 balls before being sent back.

Hardik Pandya (23) and Ravindra Jadeja (26) then combined to take India to 110/7 in 20 overs. However, the low-key total proved a cakewalk for New Zealand as they chased it down within 14.3 overs to register a comprehensive win by eight wickets and push India on the brink of an early elimination from the tournament.

The Indian players have been facing intense criticism and are also being trolled for their poor show. Some have yet again crossed the limits on social media and have resorted to abusing the players and their families, blaming them for the team's loss.

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has shared a heartwarming post for the Indian team, extending his support to the Indian players in a time of crisis. Amir said India still is one of the best teams and it is a matter of time while condemning the attack on players and their families.

"I still believe India is a best team its just a matter&nbsp;of having good time or bad time but abusing player's and their family is such a shame don't forget end of the day it's just a game of cricket," Amir said in a tweet.

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I still believe India is a best team its just a matter of having good time or bad time but abusing player's and their family is such a shame don't forget end of the day it's just a game of cricket.
— Mohammad Amir (@iamamirofficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/iamamirofficial/status/1455039529350541312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/54-dot-balls-71-deliveries-without-a-boundary-shocking-stats-numbers-from-indias-flop-show-against-nz-425787">&nbsp;54 dot balls, 71 deliveries without a boundary: Shocking stats &amp; numbers from India's flop show against NZ</a>

India's chances of making it to the top four have gone for a toss after back-to-back defeats against Pakistan and New Zealand in their first two matches respectively. The Kohli-led side will be determined to bounce back and win their next three matches by big margins to stand an outside chance of qualifying while their fate depends on the results of other teams as well. 
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The Indian cricket team is facing criticism and bashing from all corners after facing a shambolic eight-wicket defeat at the hands of New Zealand in their second Super 12 clash of the T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31).

The Indian cricket team is facing criticism and bashing from all corners after facing a shambolic eight-wicket defeat at the hands of New Zealand in their second Super 12 clash of the T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). While players are being trolled on social media, questions have been raised about the team's intent and body language in what was a disappointing outing for the Men in Blue against the Kiwis. Asked to bat first in the must-win game, India got off to a stuttering start as they lost opener Ishan Kishan (3) cheaply before KL Rahul (18) and Rohit Sharma (14) also departed in quick succession. Captain Kohli too had an off day as he could only manage 9 runs off 17 balls before being sent back. Hardik Pandya (23) and Ravindra Jadeja (26) then combined to take India to 110/7 in 20 overs. However, the low-key total proved a cakewalk for New Zealand as they chased it down within 14.3 overs to register a comprehensive win by eight wickets and push India on the brink of an early elimination from the tournament. The Indian players have been facing intense criticism and are also being trolled for their poor show. Some have yet again crossed the limits on social media and have resorted to abusing the players and their families, blaming them for the team's loss. Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has shared a heartwarming post for the Indian team, extending his support to the Indian players in a time of crisis. Amir said India still is one of the best teams and it is a matter of time while condemning the attack on players and their families. "I still believe India is a best team its just a matter of having good time or bad time but abusing player's and their family is such a shame don't forget end of the day it's just a game of cricket," Amir said in a tweet. I still believe India is a best team its just a matter of having good time or bad time but abusing player's and their family is such a shame don't forget end of the day it's just a game of cricket. — Mohammad Amir (@iamamirofficial) November 1, 2021 × Also Read: 54 dot balls, 71 deliveries without a boundary: Shocking stats & numbers from India's flop show against NZ India's chances of making it to the top four have gone for a toss after back-to-back defeats against Pakistan and New Zealand in their first two matches respectively. The Kohli-led side will be determined to bounce back and win their next three matches by big margins to stand an outside chance of qualifying while their fate depends on the results of other teams as well.

'Still believe India is best team': Pakistan pacer shares heartwarming post for Kohli & Co. after NZ defeat

Virat Kohli-led India's chances of making it to the top four look bleak in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 after their eight-wicket defeat against New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday (October 31). India have now lost their first two matches in the Super 12 in a row and are yet to open their win account at the showpiece event.

The Men in Blue suffered a crushing ten-wicket defeat at the hands of Pakistan in their opening game before going down against the Kiwis in the next encounter. The defeat against New Zealand has pushed India to the brink of elimination from the tournament.

In the aftermath of Kohli-led India's defeat, an old tweet of the Indian captain is going viral on social media. The tweet dates back to January 2011 where Kohli had expressed his disappointment over a loss and said he was going home. The tweet has been doing the rounds on social media ever since India's 8-wicket loss against New Zealand on Sunday.

&nbsp;“Sad for the loss&nbsp;going home now," Kohli had tweeted.

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Sad for the loss :( going home now
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli/status/29224697400922112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2011</a></blockquote>
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Asked to bat first, Indis got off to a shaky start against New Zealand as Ishan Kishan replaced Rohit Sharma to open the innings with KL Rahul. The move didn't work for India as Kishan was dismissed after scoring only 4 runs off 8 balls.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/54-dot-balls-71-deliveries-without-a-boundary-shocking-stats-numbers-from-indias-flop-show-against-nz-425787">54 dot balls, 71 deliveries without a boundary: Shocking stats &amp; numbers from India's flop show vs NZ</a>

Rohit then came out to bat at no.3 and was dropped on the very first ball. The Hitman too couldn't make an impact and was sent back cheaply after scoring 14 off 14 balls. The likes of KL Rahul (18) and skipper Kohli (9) were also dismissed cheaply as India could only manage to post 110 runs on the board in 20 overs.

New Zealand chased down the paltry target of 111 runs inside 14.3 overs to register a comfortable victory by eight wickets and grab their first win in the tournament. India, on the other hand, are winless after their first two games and will need a miracle to qualify for the semi-finals.

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Virat Kohli-led India's chances of making it to the top four look bleak in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 after their eight-wicket defeat against New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday (October 31).

Virat Kohli-led India's chances of making it to the top four look bleak in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 after their eight-wicket defeat against New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday (October 31). India have now lost their first two matches in the Super 12 in a row and are yet to open their win account at the showpiece event. The Men in Blue suffered a crushing ten-wicket defeat at the hands of Pakistan in their opening game before going down against the Kiwis in the next encounter. The defeat against New Zealand has pushed India to the brink of elimination from the tournament. In the aftermath of Kohli-led India's defeat, an old tweet of the Indian captain is going viral on social media. The tweet dates back to January 2011 where Kohli had expressed his disappointment over a loss and said he was going home. The tweet has been doing the rounds on social media ever since India's 8-wicket loss against New Zealand on Sunday. “Sad for the loss going home now," Kohli had tweeted. Sad for the loss :( going home now — Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) January 23, 2011 × Asked to bat first, Indis got off to a shaky start against New Zealand as Ishan Kishan replaced Rohit Sharma to open the innings with KL Rahul. The move didn't work for India as Kishan was dismissed after scoring only 4 runs off 8 balls. Also Read: 54 dot balls, 71 deliveries without a boundary: Shocking stats & numbers from India's flop show vs NZ Rohit then came out to bat at no.3 and was dropped on the very first ball. The Hitman too couldn't make an impact and was sent back cheaply after scoring 14 off 14 balls. The likes of KL Rahul (18) and skipper Kohli (9) were also dismissed cheaply as India could only manage to post 110 runs on the board in 20 overs. New Zealand chased down the paltry target of 111 runs inside 14.3 overs to register a comfortable victory by eight wickets and grab their first win in the tournament. India, on the other hand, are winless after their first two games and will need a miracle to qualify for the semi-finals.

'Going home now’ – Virat Kohli’s old tweet goes viral after NZ thrash India in T20 World Cup 2021

After being thrashed by Pakistan in their T20 World Cup 2021 opener, Virat Kohli-led Team India were hammered by Kane Williamson-led New Zealand on Sunday (October 31), at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in their second game in Super 12.

Being asked to bat first, nothing clicked for India as they managed a below-par 110/7 in 20 overs. In reply, New Zealand sailed past the Men in Blue by 8 wickets courtesy vital knocks from Daryl Mitchell and Captain Williamson. With another defeat, the one-time winners India are almost on the verge of being eliminated from the marquee tournament.&nbsp;

With several experts and former cricketers questioning India's poor run and their tactics, Jasprit Bumrah pointed out that the bubble-life has taken a toll on the Indian cricketers. In their defence, Team India have been on the road since mid-May, 2021 and have played regular cricket since then. To move from one bio-bubble to the other isn't easy by any means and it has started to affect the players.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/54-dot-balls-71-deliveries-without-a-boundary-shocking-stats-numbers-from-indias-flop-show-against-nz-425787">54 dot balls, 71 deliveries without a boundary: Shocking stats &amp; numbers from India's flop show against NZ</a>

Bumrah told reporters post India's thrashing versus New Zealand, "Absolutely, sometimes you need a break. You miss your family. You've been on the road for six months. So all of that sometimes play on the back of your mind. But when you're on the field, you don't think of all those things .. Obviously staying in a bubble and staying away from your family for such a long period of time does play a role.

"The BCCI also tried their best to make us feel comfortable .. It's a difficult time. There's a pandemic going on, so we try to adapt but sometimes bubble fatigue, mental fatigue also creeps in."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/why-did-rohit-bat-at-3-shoaib-akhtar-questions-indias-game-plan-says-it-was-a-lost-squad-against-nz-425758">'Why did Rohit bat at 3?': Shoaib Akhtar questions India's game plan, says it was a lost squad against NZ</a>

India need a miracle now to progress to the semi-finals from Pool B. At present, Pakistan look certain to top the group whereas the fight for the second spot is between the Black Caps and Mohammad Nabi-led Afghanistan.

After being thrashed by Pakistan in their T20 World Cup 2021 opener, Virat Kohli-led Team India were hammered by Kane Williamson-led New Zealand on Sunday (October 31), at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in their second game in Super 12.

After being thrashed by Pakistan in their T20 World Cup 2021 opener, Virat Kohli-led Team India were hammered by Kane Williamson-led New Zealand on Sunday (October 31), at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in their second game in Super 12. Being asked to bat first, nothing clicked for India as they managed a below-par 110/7 in 20 overs. In reply, New Zealand sailed past the Men in Blue by 8 wickets courtesy vital knocks from Daryl Mitchell and Captain Williamson. With another defeat, the one-time winners India are almost on the verge of being eliminated from the marquee tournament. With several experts and former cricketers questioning India's poor run and their tactics, Jasprit Bumrah pointed out that the bubble-life has taken a toll on the Indian cricketers. In their defence, Team India have been on the road since mid-May, 2021 and have played regular cricket since then. To move from one bio-bubble to the other isn't easy by any means and it has started to affect the players. ALSO READ | 54 dot balls, 71 deliveries without a boundary: Shocking stats & numbers from India's flop show against NZ Bumrah told reporters post India's thrashing versus New Zealand, "Absolutely, sometimes you need a break. You miss your family. You've been on the road for six months. So all of that sometimes play on the back of your mind. But when you're on the field, you don't think of all those things .. Obviously staying in a bubble and staying away from your family for such a long period of time does play a role. "The BCCI also tried their best to make us feel comfortable .. It's a difficult time. There's a pandemic going on, so we try to adapt but sometimes bubble fatigue, mental fatigue also creeps in." ALSO READ | 'Why did Rohit bat at 3?': Shoaib Akhtar questions India's game plan, says it was a lost squad against NZ India need a miracle now to progress to the semi-finals from Pool B. At present, Pakistan look certain to top the group whereas the fight for the second spot is between the Black Caps and Mohammad Nabi-led Afghanistan.

'Sometimes you need a break: Jasprit Bumrah feels bubble-fatigue behind Team India's T20 WC struggles

India endured yet another woeful defeat as they went down by eight wickets against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). A lot was expected from the Virat Kohli-led side after their crushing ten-wicket loss against Pakistan in the opener. However, Kohli &amp; Co. once again failed to turn up in a high-octane clash and were completely outclassed by the Kiwis at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai.

In what was another disappointing night for the Indian batsmen, a top-order collapse saw the Kohli-led side get restricted cheaply for a paltry 110 runs. New Zealand chased down the target comfortably inside 14.3 overs with eight wickets to spare to register their first win in the tournament and push India on the brink of an early elimination from the T20 World Cup 2021.

It was a shambolic performance by the Indian batters as none of them managed to take on the Kiwi bowling attack and step up under pressure for the team. The Indians failed to accelerate throughout the innings and kept losing wickets at regular intervals to let New Zealand bowlers dominate the proceedings in Dubai.

India played a staggering 54 dot balls which are equivalent to as many as nine overs in the game. The Men in Blue also went without a boundary for 71 balls during their innings. There were some more shocking stats and numbers that came out of the Indian innings and are a reflection of the shambolic batting performance.

<h2>Shocking stats and numbers from India's loss against New Zealand:</h2>

1) India played a staggering 54 dot balls equivalent to as many as nine overs during their innings against New Zealand in Dubai&nbsp;

2) India went without a boundary for 71 balls during their innings. Their last boundary had come on the first ball of the sixth over before Hardik Pandya brought an end to the boundary draught on the final ball of the 17th over

3) India's total of 110/7 was their lowest-ever batting first in a T20 World Cup match with their previous lowest being 130/4 against Sri Lanka in the 2014 T20 World Cup final.

4)&nbsp;India failed to attack New Zealand spinners at all. Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner bowled 8 overs combined without conceding a single boundary.

5)&nbsp;India managed to score only 35/2 in the Powerplay, which is the third-highest score in the Powerplay in this year's T20 World Cup.&nbsp;

6) India&nbsp;managed only eight fours and two sixes throughout their innings.

7) Only two Indian batters - Ravindra Jadeja (26) and Hardik Pandya (23) managed to cross the 20-run mark during their innings.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/why-did-rohit-bat-at-3-shoaib-akhtar-questions-indias-game-plan-says-it-was-a-lost-squad-against-nz-425758">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/why-did-rohit-bat-at-3-shoaib-akhtar-questions-indias-game-plan-says-it-was-a-lost-squad-against-nz-425758">'Why did Rohit bat at 3?': Shoaib Akhtar questions India's game plan, says it was a lost squad against NZ</a>

India are now all but out of the race for the top four but still, stand an outside chance of making it to the next round if they can win their remaining three matches by big margins. The Kohli-led side will also need the results of other teams to go in their favour to make it to the top four. India will take on Afghanistan next in their 3rd Super 12 game on Wednesday (November 03).

&nbsp;

India endured yet another woeful defeat as they went down by eight wickets against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). A lot was expected from the Virat Kohli-led side after their crushing ten-wicket loss against Pakistan in the opener.

India endured yet another woeful defeat as they went down by eight wickets against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). A lot was expected from the Virat Kohli-led side after their crushing ten-wicket loss against Pakistan in the opener. However, Kohli & Co. once again failed to turn up in a high-octane clash and were completely outclassed by the Kiwis at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai. In what was another disappointing night for the Indian batsmen, a top-order collapse saw the Kohli-led side get restricted cheaply for a paltry 110 runs. New Zealand chased down the target comfortably inside 14.3 overs with eight wickets to spare to register their first win in the tournament and push India on the brink of an early elimination from the T20 World Cup 2021. It was a shambolic performance by the Indian batters as none of them managed to take on the Kiwi bowling attack and step up under pressure for the team. The Indians failed to accelerate throughout the innings and kept losing wickets at regular intervals to let New Zealand bowlers dominate the proceedings in Dubai. India played a staggering 54 dot balls which are equivalent to as many as nine overs in the game. The Men in Blue also went without a boundary for 71 balls during their innings. There were some more shocking stats and numbers that came out of the Indian innings and are a reflection of the shambolic batting performance. Shocking stats and numbers from India's loss against New Zealand: 1) India played a staggering 54 dot balls equivalent to as many as nine overs during their innings against New Zealand in Dubai 2) India went without a boundary for 71 balls during their innings. Their last boundary had come on the first ball of the sixth over before Hardik Pandya brought an end to the boundary draught on the final ball of the 17th over 3) India's total of 110/7 was their lowest-ever batting first in a T20 World Cup match with their previous lowest being 130/4 against Sri Lanka in the 2014 T20 World Cup final. 4) India failed to attack New Zealand spinners at all. Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner bowled 8 overs combined without conceding a single boundary. 5) India managed to score only 35/2 in the Powerplay, which is the third-highest score in the Powerplay in this year's T20 World Cup. 6) India managed only eight fours and two sixes throughout their innings. 7) Only two Indian batters - Ravindra Jadeja (26) and Hardik Pandya (23) managed to cross the 20-run mark during their innings. Also Read: 'Why did Rohit bat at 3?': Shoaib Akhtar questions India's game plan, says it was a lost squad against NZ India are now all but out of the race for the top four but still, stand an outside chance of making it to the next round if they can win their remaining three matches by big margins. The Kohli-led side will also need the results of other teams to go in their favour to make it to the top four. India will take on Afghanistan next in their 3rd Super 12 game on Wednesday (November 03).

54 dot balls, 71 deliveries without a boundary: Shocking stats & numbers from India's flop show against NZ

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar criticised India's game plan against New Zealand as he was left disappointed by Virat Kohli &amp; Co.'s timid show in their 8-wicket defeat in the T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). India's batting line-up was left exposed once again while the bowlers failed to deliver as a unit.

After a humiliating ten-wicket defeat against Pakistan in their opening game of the Super 12, India were expected to dish out a better performance against New Zealand but were completely outclassed by the Kiwis. Invited to bat first, India could only manage a paltry 110 runs on the board in their quota of 20 overs after the likes of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli failed to deliver.

The move to promote Ishan Kishan as an opener and demote Rohit at no. 3 raised many eyebrows and was questioned by many including Akhtar, who said he didn't know what mindset and attitude were India playing with against New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday.&nbsp;

After restricting India on 110 runs, New Zealand comfortably chased down the target in 14.3 overs and registered their first win in the tournament. Speaking on his YouTube channel while analysing India's loss, Akhtar questioned India's game plan and the decisions to open with Ishan and bowling Hardik Pandya last in the game among others.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/time-for-serious-introspection-virender-sehwag-disappointed-as-nz-virtually-knock-india-out-of-t20-wc-2021-425745">Time for serious introspection: Sehwag disappointed as NZ virtually knock India out of T20 WC 2021</a>

"I don't know with what mindset and attitude they were playing. Why did Rohit bat at 3, why did they open with Ishan Kishan? Hardik Pandya, bowling pretty late in the innings, should've bowled earlier. I have no idea whatsoever about India's gameplan. It was a completely lost Indian squad," Akhtar said in a video on his YouTube channel.

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"It never seemed as if India turned up for this game or not. Average performance by team India. After all the hype and pressure from the Indian media, I knew that the team would struggle. Again, the team proved to be a weak bowling side," the former Pakistan pacer added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-lack-mental-toughness-for-big-matches-gautam-gambhir-slams-virat-kohli-co-after-nz-debacle-425752">India lack mental toughness for big matches: Gautam Gambhir slams Virat Kohli &amp; Co. after NZ debacle</a>

While the defeat has done significant damage to India's hope for finishing in the top four, they still stand a outside chance depending on the results of the other teams if they can manage to win their remaining three matches by big margins. India will next face Afghanistan on Wednesday (November 03).

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar criticised India's game plan against New Zealand as he was left disappointed by Virat Kohli & Co.'s timid show in their 8-wicket defeat in the T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31).

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar criticised India's game plan against New Zealand as he was left disappointed by Virat Kohli & Co.'s timid show in their 8-wicket defeat in the T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). India's batting line-up was left exposed once again while the bowlers failed to deliver as a unit. After a humiliating ten-wicket defeat against Pakistan in their opening game of the Super 12, India were expected to dish out a better performance against New Zealand but were completely outclassed by the Kiwis. Invited to bat first, India could only manage a paltry 110 runs on the board in their quota of 20 overs after the likes of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli failed to deliver. The move to promote Ishan Kishan as an opener and demote Rohit at no. 3 raised many eyebrows and was questioned by many including Akhtar, who said he didn't know what mindset and attitude were India playing with against New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday. After restricting India on 110 runs, New Zealand comfortably chased down the target in 14.3 overs and registered their first win in the tournament. Speaking on his YouTube channel while analysing India's loss, Akhtar questioned India's game plan and the decisions to open with Ishan and bowling Hardik Pandya last in the game among others. Also Read: Time for serious introspection: Sehwag disappointed as NZ virtually knock India out of T20 WC 2021 "I don't know with what mindset and attitude they were playing. Why did Rohit bat at 3, why did they open with Ishan Kishan? Hardik Pandya, bowling pretty late in the innings, should've bowled earlier. I have no idea whatsoever about India's gameplan. It was a completely lost Indian squad," Akhtar said in a video on his YouTube channel. × "It never seemed as if India turned up for this game or not. Average performance by team India. After all the hype and pressure from the Indian media, I knew that the team would struggle. Again, the team proved to be a weak bowling side," the former Pakistan pacer added. Also Read: India lack mental toughness for big matches: Gautam Gambhir slams Virat Kohli & Co. after NZ debacle While the defeat has done significant damage to India's hope for finishing in the top four, they still stand a outside chance depending on the results of the other teams if they can manage to win their remaining three matches by big margins. India will next face Afghanistan on Wednesday (November 03).

'Why did Rohit bat at 3?': Shoaib Akhtar questions India's game plan, says it was a lost squad against NZ

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir has slammed Team India after their crushing eight-wicket defeat in a must-win game against New Zealand in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). Gambhir feels Virat Kohli's team doesn't have the mental toughness to win big games and tournaments after they succumbed to their second successive defeat in two games at the T20 World Cup 2021.

India lost their opening game against arch-rivals Pakistan by ten wickets and were expected to bounce back to winning way and keep their playoffs hopes intact against New Zealand. However, the Men in blue suffered yet another batting collapse as they could only manage 110 runs in 20 overs, batting first in Dubai.

New Zealand chased down the target inside 14.3 overs while losing just two wickets to register a comprehensive victory and bag their first win in the tournament. The loss has heavily damaged India's chances of making it to the top four as the Kohli-led side will need a miracle from here to qualify for the knockout stage.

Kohli &amp; Co. will have to win their remaining three matches by big margins to ensure they stand a chance of making it to the top four depending on other results too. Talking about India's woeful performance, Gambhir said the current Indian team has the skills but lacks the mental toughness that is required to win a big game.

"Yes talent is one thing, you've got all the skills and do really well in bilaterals and stuff. But when it comes to these kind of games and tournaments, this is when you have got to stand up and perform," said Gambhir on ESPN Cricinfo.

"This game was literally like a quarterfinal. The problem is with the mental toughness of the side. Suddenly when you know you have got to win the game and can't make mistakes, in bilaterals it's different because you can make mistakes there. But in these kind of games, I don't think India has got that mental strength," he added.

India have three matches remaining in the competition and another loss will confirm their early exit from the competition. The Men in Blue will have to win their remaining matches by handsome margins to ensure their net run rate can be improved and they stand a chance at qualifying.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/time-for-serious-introspection-virender-sehwag-disappointed-as-nz-virtually-knock-india-out-of-t20-wc-2021-425745">Time for serious introspection: Sehwag disappointed as NZ virtually knock India out of T20 WC 2021</a>

This was India's 5th successive defeat against New Zealand in an ICC tournament and third in a row in the T20 World Cup. India have not won a game against New Zealand in an ICC event since 2003 and Gambhir feels India currently don't have the pedigree to turn up in major ICC tournaments.

"They have the skill and are a very dangerous side. But unfortunately, we can keep talking about it that we need to stand by our team when its not doing well but it's been a trend and its been happening for a very long time in most of these ICC tournaments, whether its the semifinals or the game today as well. When it mattered the most for someone to put his hand up, they just couldn't," Gambhir explained.

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir has slammed Team India after their crushing eight-wicket defeat in a must-win game against New Zealand in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31).

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir has slammed Team India after their crushing eight-wicket defeat in a must-win game against New Zealand in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). Gambhir feels Virat Kohli's team doesn't have the mental toughness to win big games and tournaments after they succumbed to their second successive defeat in two games at the T20 World Cup 2021. India lost their opening game against arch-rivals Pakistan by ten wickets and were expected to bounce back to winning way and keep their playoffs hopes intact against New Zealand. However, the Men in blue suffered yet another batting collapse as they could only manage 110 runs in 20 overs, batting first in Dubai. New Zealand chased down the target inside 14.3 overs while losing just two wickets to register a comprehensive victory and bag their first win in the tournament. The loss has heavily damaged India's chances of making it to the top four as the Kohli-led side will need a miracle from here to qualify for the knockout stage. Kohli & Co. will have to win their remaining three matches by big margins to ensure they stand a chance of making it to the top four depending on other results too. Talking about India's woeful performance, Gambhir said the current Indian team has the skills but lacks the mental toughness that is required to win a big game. "Yes talent is one thing, you've got all the skills and do really well in bilaterals and stuff. But when it comes to these kind of games and tournaments, this is when you have got to stand up and perform," said Gambhir on ESPN Cricinfo. "This game was literally like a quarterfinal. The problem is with the mental toughness of the side. Suddenly when you know you have got to win the game and can't make mistakes, in bilaterals it's different because you can make mistakes there. But in these kind of games, I don't think India has got that mental strength," he added. India have three matches remaining in the competition and another loss will confirm their early exit from the competition. The Men in Blue will have to win their remaining matches by handsome margins to ensure their net run rate can be improved and they stand a chance at qualifying. Also Read: Time for serious introspection: Sehwag disappointed as NZ virtually knock India out of T20 WC 2021 This was India's 5th successive defeat against New Zealand in an ICC tournament and third in a row in the T20 World Cup. India have not won a game against New Zealand in an ICC event since 2003 and Gambhir feels India currently don't have the pedigree to turn up in major ICC tournaments. "They have the skill and are a very dangerous side. But unfortunately, we can keep talking about it that we need to stand by our team when its not doing well but it's been a trend and its been happening for a very long time in most of these ICC tournaments, whether its the semifinals or the game today as well. When it mattered the most for someone to put his hand up, they just couldn't," Gambhir explained.

India lack mental toughness for big matches: Gautam Gambhir slams Virat Kohli & Co. after NZ debacle

India will lock horns with New Zealand in their second Super 12 clash in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). The Virat Kohli-led side will be itching to bounce back to winning ways after suffering a crushing ten-wicket defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Pakistan in their opener last week. The all-important clash is a must-win for Team India and will be played at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai.

New Zealand too have had a similar&nbsp;start to the tournament as India. The Kane Williamson-led side also faced a defeat at the hands of Pakistan in their opening encounter and will be hopeful of returning to winning ways. Both India and New Zealand have played one game each so far in the T20 World Cup 2021 and are yet to open their win account.

Indian skipper Kohli confirmed all-rounder Hardik Pandya is fit and available to play. Pandya, who didn't bowl in the Pakistan game, was seen bowling in the nets ahead of the New Zealand encounter and it remains to be seen if will roll his arms in the game.

Many had questioned Hardik's spot in the playing XI owing to his poor fitness and lack of bowling, however, India are unlikely to drop him from the playing XI against New Zealand. Shardul Thakur might have to wait for his chance as senior pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar is also likely to retain his spot in the XI.

New Zealand batter Martin Guptill, who was injured while batting during the Pakistan game, has recovered and has been declared fit to take the field against India. It is expected to be a cracker of a contest between the two sides in Dubai on Sunday.

India have so far played two T20Is against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup and have finished on the losing side on both occasions. However, when it comes to the overall head-to-head record between the two sides in T20Is, India and New Zealand have both managed eight wins each in a total of 16 games between them.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-responds-after-trent-boult-says-he-will-look-to-emulate-shaheen-afridis-heroics-against-india-425336">Virat Kohli responds after Trent Boult says he will look to emulate Shaheen Afridi's heroics against India</a>

India vs New Zealand, ICC T20 World Cup 2021 prediction:

Team India head into the New Zealand clash as wounded tigers after losing to arch-rivals Pakistan by a huge margin. The Men in Blue will be eager to put out a statement with a comprehensive win and are likely to come out on top against New Zealand on Sunday.

India will lock horns with New Zealand in their second Super 12 clash in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). The Virat Kohli-led side will be itching to bounce back to winning ways after suffering a crushing ten-wicket defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Pakistan in their opener last week.

India will lock horns with New Zealand in their second Super 12 clash in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). The Virat Kohli-led side will be itching to bounce back to winning ways after suffering a crushing ten-wicket defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Pakistan in their opener last week. The all-important clash is a must-win for Team India and will be played at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai. New Zealand too have had a similar start to the tournament as India. The Kane Williamson-led side also faced a defeat at the hands of Pakistan in their opening encounter and will be hopeful of returning to winning ways. Both India and New Zealand have played one game each so far in the T20 World Cup 2021 and are yet to open their win account. Indian skipper Kohli confirmed all-rounder Hardik Pandya is fit and available to play. Pandya, who didn't bowl in the Pakistan game, was seen bowling in the nets ahead of the New Zealand encounter and it remains to be seen if will roll his arms in the game. Many had questioned Hardik's spot in the playing XI owing to his poor fitness and lack of bowling, however, India are unlikely to drop him from the playing XI against New Zealand. Shardul Thakur might have to wait for his chance as senior pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar is also likely to retain his spot in the XI. New Zealand batter Martin Guptill, who was injured while batting during the Pakistan game, has recovered and has been declared fit to take the field against India. It is expected to be a cracker of a contest between the two sides in Dubai on Sunday. India have so far played two T20Is against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup and have finished on the losing side on both occasions. However, when it comes to the overall head-to-head record between the two sides in T20Is, India and New Zealand have both managed eight wins each in a total of 16 games between them. Also Read: Virat Kohli responds after Trent Boult says he will look to emulate Shaheen Afridi's heroics against India India vs New Zealand, ICC T20 World Cup 2021 prediction: Team India head into the New Zealand clash as wounded tigers after losing to arch-rivals Pakistan by a huge margin. The Men in Blue will be eager to put out a statement with a comprehensive win and are likely to come out on top against New Zealand on Sunday.

IND vs NZ, T20 World Cup 2021 prediction: Who will win today's match between India and New Zealand?

Indian skipper Virat Kohli was left bemused in the post-match press conference after the team's ten-wicket loss against Pakistan in their opening game of the T20 World Cup 2021 when a reporter asked if he should consider dropping Rohit Sharma for Ishan Kishan in the playing XI. Kohli was left stumped by the question and told the reporter it was a very 'brave' question.

"Do you think its a mistake to not play Ishan Kishan and he could have done better than Rohit Sharma?" - the journalist asked Kohli after India's loss against Pakistan. Kohli burst into laughter on hearing the question and replied - "That's a very brave question, what do you think sir? I played the team that I thought was the best. What is your opinion." &nbsp;

"I am just asking. I am not going to comment," the reporter responded.

"Will you drop Rohit Sharma from T20 internationals? You will drop Rohit Sharma? Do you know what he did in the last game that we played? Yeah? Unbelievable. If you want controversy, please tell me before so I can answer accordingly," Kohli then said while laughing.

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The video of the incident had gone viral on social media with many criticising the reporter for his question. But days after Kohli laughed off his question, the reporter's prediction came partially true on Sunday (October 31) as India locked horns with New Zealand in their second Super 12 game of the T20 World Cup 2021.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/its-ridiculous-virat-kohli-says-too-long-a-break-as-india-take-on-nz-after-seven-days-in-t20-wc-2021-425628">&nbsp;'It's ridiculous': Virat Kohli says 'too long a break' as India take on NZ after seven days in T20 WC 2021</a>

While Rohit was not dropped from the playing XI, he was replaced by young Kishan as an opener. Many were expecting KL Rahul to be demoted after captain Kohli confirmed during the toss that Kishan will open the innings after replacing an injured Suryakumar Yadav in the XI.

However, that was not the case as Kishan opened the batting with KL Rahul against the Black Caps. The move didn't work in India's favour as the young left-hander was dismissed after scoring just 4 runs of 8 balls and failed to make an impact.

India got off to a disatrous start in the must-win game against New Zealand as they lost Kishan cheaply on 4 before Rahul was dismissed after scoring 18 off 16 balls. Rohit, who came out to bat at no.3, was dropped on the very first ball he faced but survived after Adam Milne spilled a seatet to hand him a lifeline.

The Hitman was sent packing by Ish Shodi after scoring on;y 14 runs of 14 balls before the spinner got rid of skipper Kohli on 9 off 17 balls as were reduced to 48/4 inside the first eleven overs.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli was left bemused in the post-match press conference after the team's ten-wicket loss against Pakistan in their opening game of the T20 World Cup 2021 when a reporter asked if he should consider dropping Rohit Sharma for Ishan Kishan in the playing XI.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli was left bemused in the post-match press conference after the team's ten-wicket loss against Pakistan in their opening game of the T20 World Cup 2021 when a reporter asked if he should consider dropping Rohit Sharma for Ishan Kishan in the playing XI. Kohli was left stumped by the question and told the reporter it was a very 'brave' question. "Do you think its a mistake to not play Ishan Kishan and he could have done better than Rohit Sharma?" - the journalist asked Kohli after India's loss against Pakistan. Kohli burst into laughter on hearing the question and replied - "That's a very brave question, what do you think sir? I played the team that I thought was the best. What is your opinion." "I am just asking. I am not going to comment," the reporter responded. "Will you drop Rohit Sharma from T20 internationals? You will drop Rohit Sharma? Do you know what he did in the last game that we played? Yeah? Unbelievable. If you want controversy, please tell me before so I can answer accordingly," Kohli then said while laughing. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ICC (@icc) × The video of the incident had gone viral on social media with many criticising the reporter for his question. But days after Kohli laughed off his question, the reporter's prediction came partially true on Sunday (October 31) as India locked horns with New Zealand in their second Super 12 game of the T20 World Cup 2021. Also Read: 'It's ridiculous': Virat Kohli says 'too long a break' as India take on NZ after seven days in T20 WC 2021 While Rohit was not dropped from the playing XI, he was replaced by young Kishan as an opener. Many were expecting KL Rahul to be demoted after captain Kohli confirmed during the toss that Kishan will open the innings after replacing an injured Suryakumar Yadav in the XI. However, that was not the case as Kishan opened the batting with KL Rahul against the Black Caps. The move didn't work in India's favour as the young left-hander was dismissed after scoring just 4 runs of 8 balls and failed to make an impact. India got off to a disatrous start in the must-win game against New Zealand as they lost Kishan cheaply on 4 before Rahul was dismissed after scoring 18 off 16 balls. Rohit, who came out to bat at no.3, was dropped on the very first ball he faced but survived after Adam Milne spilled a seatet to hand him a lifeline. The Hitman was sent packing by Ish Shodi after scoring on;y 14 runs of 14 balls before the spinner got rid of skipper Kohli on 9 off 17 balls as were reduced to 48/4 inside the first eleven overs.

Days after Virat Kohli getting tetchy with journalist, Ishan replaces Rohit as opener against NZ in T20 WC

England have been on a roll in the ongoing T2 World Cup 2021 with three victories from three matches so far in the showpiece event. The Eoin Morgan-led side has played some fantastic cricket and has dominated the proceedings in the Group 1 of the Super 12 to stand atop the points table so far.

England kicked off their tournament with a six-wicket win against West Indies before thrashing Bangladesh by eight wickets in their second game to make it two wins in a row. England then continued their unbeaten run by thumping Australia by eight wickets in their third game on Saturday (October 30) to consolidate the top spot on the Group 1 table.

On Saturday, England bundled out Australia for a paltry 125 runs after inviting them to bat first in Dubai and then chased down the target with as many as 8.2 overs to spare to earn a convincing victory. England pacers Chris Jordan (3) and Chris Woakes (2) picked up five wickets between them to run through the Aussie batting line-up.

Jos Buttler then slammed a stunning unbeaten 71 off just 32 balls to the Aussie bowling line-up to the cleaners and power England to their third win in a row.&nbsp;

Praising England after their victory against Australia, former England captain Michale Vaughan said England are the best and the most destructive team in the tournament this year, and that he sees only Pakistan as a side who can stop their juggernaut.

"Now that is a message to the rest ... England are the best team &amp; most destructive ... Whose going to stop them!?? Only #Pakistan look likely at this stage #T20WorldCup," Vaughan tweeted.&nbsp;

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England have been on a roll in the ongoing T2 World Cup 2021 with three victories from three matches so far in the showpiece event. The Eoin Morgan-led side has played some fantastic cricket and has dominated the proceedings in the Group 1 of the Super 12 to stand atop the points table so far.

England have been on a roll in the ongoing T2 World Cup 2021 with three victories from three matches so far in the showpiece event. The Eoin Morgan-led side has played some fantastic cricket and has dominated the proceedings in the Group 1 of the Super 12 to stand atop the points table so far. England kicked off their tournament with a six-wicket win against West Indies before thrashing Bangladesh by eight wickets in their second game to make it two wins in a row. England then continued their unbeaten run by thumping Australia by eight wickets in their third game on Saturday (October 30) to consolidate the top spot on the Group 1 table. On Saturday, England bundled out Australia for a paltry 125 runs after inviting them to bat first in Dubai and then chased down the target with as many as 8.2 overs to spare to earn a convincing victory. England pacers Chris Jordan (3) and Chris Woakes (2) picked up five wickets between them to run through the Aussie batting line-up. Jos Buttler then slammed a stunning unbeaten 71 off just 32 balls to the Aussie bowling line-up to the cleaners and power England to their third win in a row. Praising England after their victory against Australia, former England captain Michale Vaughan said England are the best and the most destructive team in the tournament this year, and that he sees only Pakistan as a side who can stop their juggernaut. "Now that is a message to the rest ... England are the best team & most destructive ... Whose going to stop them!?? Only #Pakistan look likely at this stage #T20WorldCup," Vaughan tweeted.

Michael Vaughan names only team which can stop 'destructive' England in T20 World Cup 2021

India will be eager to return to winning ways and improve their rankings on the Group 2 points table when they lock horns with New Zealand in a must-win Super 12 encounter in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). India lost their opening clash against arch-rivals Pakistan by ten wickets and are currently languishing at the fifth spot on the points table.

New Zealand are also heading into the game on the back of a defeat in their opening game against Pakistan and will be looking to bounce back. Both teams are yet to open their win account in the tournament and Sunday's clash in Dubai will be an important one for them as they look to strengthen their chances of finishing in the top four.

India have not won a T20 World Cup game against New Zealand so far. The Men in Blue have ended up on the losing side in both the meetings between the two sides in the T20 World Cup so far. New Zealand have dominated the proceedings against India overall in ICC events as well, having last lost to them in the 2003 ODI World Cup.

India have not won a game against New Zealand in an ICC event in 18 years since 2003 and will be hoping to bring an end to the losing streak on Sunday. Ahead of the all-important game, here is all you need to know about the India-New Zealand clash in the T20 World Cup 2021.

Predicted playing XIs&nbsp;

New Zealand:&nbsp;Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson (c), James Neesham, Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert (wk), Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Trent Boult

India: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli (c), Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakravarthy, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah

Head-to-head

India might have lost both their matches against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup so far, but the Men in Blue have an even record when it comes to facing the Black Caps in T20Is. Both India and New Zealand have eight wins each in a total of 16 T20Is between them.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/winless-in-18-years-can-virat-kohli-led-india-break-the-jinx-against-new-zealand-in-icc-events-425532">Winless in 18 years! Can Virat Kohli-led India break the jinx against New Zealand in ICC events</a>

Pitch report

While spinners haven't had much help from the Dubai track, the Afghanistan duo of Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman had troubled the Pakistani batsmen in their previous clash which was played in Dubai. With the dew factor coming in, the majority of teams have bowled first at the venue and have won chasing a total. Expect the winner of the toss to bowl first once again on Sunday.

Prediction

New Zealand might not have lost against India in a T20 World Cup game so far but on Sunday, the streak can be buried by Virat Kohli and his men, who will be eager to prove their critics wrong after the defeat against Pakistan. India know the game is a must-win one for them to keep their chances of making it to the top four alive and will look to give their all against the Kiwis.

&nbsp;

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India will be eager to return to winning ways and improve their rankings on the Group 2 points table when they lock horns with New Zealand in a must-win Super 12 encounter in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31).

India will be eager to return to winning ways and improve their rankings on the Group 2 points table when they lock horns with New Zealand in a must-win Super 12 encounter in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). India lost their opening clash against arch-rivals Pakistan by ten wickets and are currently languishing at the fifth spot on the points table. New Zealand are also heading into the game on the back of a defeat in their opening game against Pakistan and will be looking to bounce back. Both teams are yet to open their win account in the tournament and Sunday's clash in Dubai will be an important one for them as they look to strengthen their chances of finishing in the top four. India have not won a T20 World Cup game against New Zealand so far. The Men in Blue have ended up on the losing side in both the meetings between the two sides in the T20 World Cup so far. New Zealand have dominated the proceedings against India overall in ICC events as well, having last lost to them in the 2003 ODI World Cup. India have not won a game against New Zealand in an ICC event in 18 years since 2003 and will be hoping to bring an end to the losing streak on Sunday. Ahead of the all-important game, here is all you need to know about the India-New Zealand clash in the T20 World Cup 2021. Predicted playing XIs New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson (c), James Neesham, Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert (wk), Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Trent Boult India: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli (c), Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakravarthy, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah Head-to-head India might have lost both their matches against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup so far, but the Men in Blue have an even record when it comes to facing the Black Caps in T20Is. Both India and New Zealand have eight wins each in a total of 16 T20Is between them. Also Read: Winless in 18 years! Can Virat Kohli-led India break the jinx against New Zealand in ICC events Pitch report While spinners haven't had much help from the Dubai track, the Afghanistan duo of Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman had troubled the Pakistani batsmen in their previous clash which was played in Dubai. With the dew factor coming in, the majority of teams have bowled first at the venue and have won chasing a total. Expect the winner of the toss to bowl first once again on Sunday. Prediction New Zealand might not have lost against India in a T20 World Cup game so far but on Sunday, the streak can be buried by Virat Kohli and his men, who will be eager to prove their critics wrong after the defeat against Pakistan. India know the game is a must-win one for them to keep their chances of making it to the top four alive and will look to give their all against the Kiwis.

India vs New Zealand, T20 World Cup 2021: Likely playing XIs, head-to-head, pitch report & prediction

Jos Buttler played a sensational knock of unbeaten 71 as England thrashed Australia by eight wickets in their Super 12 clash of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 in Dubai on Sunday. Buttler was in brilliant touch as he single-handedly took the Australian bowling apart to power his side to a convincing victory and retain the top spot in Group 2.

Buttler's 32-ball 71 was filled with some extraordinary strokes all around the ground including a six off left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc which was sent out of the park. It was a huge six from the right-hander, who connected well and sent the ball over the stadium roof for a maximum.

Former Australia cricketer Shane Watson, who is currently commentating during the T20 World Cup 2021, mistook the ball hit by Buttler for the moon during commentary. Watson confused the ball for the moon when the replay of Buttler's six was played.

“Isn’t that incredible, the beauty of the earth that we live on,” Watson said on-air looking at the footage of the ball before being corrected by his fellow commentator. The clip of Watson's error soon went viral on social media.

Watch video:

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Talking about the game, England won the toss and put Australia to bat first in Dubai. The Aussies were off to an awful start as they lost David Warner (1) and Steve Smith (1) in quick succession before Glenn Maxwell (6) also departed cheaply.

It was skipper Aaron Finch's 44 and contributions from Matthew Wade (18) and Ashton Agar (20) which helped the Aussies post a low-key 125 runs on the board.

England openers Jason Roy and Jos Buttler shared an opening stand of 66 runs for the first wicket and set the stage for a comfortable win for the Eoin Morgan-led side. Buttler went on to score an unbeaten 71 as England chased down the target of 126 runs with 8.2 overs to spare to keep their unbeaten streak intact in the T20 World Cup 2021.

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Jos Buttler played a sensational knock of unbeaten 71 as England thrashed Australia by eight wickets in their Super 12 clash of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 in Dubai on Sunday.

Jos Buttler played a sensational knock of unbeaten 71 as England thrashed Australia by eight wickets in their Super 12 clash of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 in Dubai on Sunday. Buttler was in brilliant touch as he single-handedly took the Australian bowling apart to power his side to a convincing victory and retain the top spot in Group 2. Buttler's 32-ball 71 was filled with some extraordinary strokes all around the ground including a six off left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc which was sent out of the park. It was a huge six from the right-hander, who connected well and sent the ball over the stadium roof for a maximum. Former Australia cricketer Shane Watson, who is currently commentating during the T20 World Cup 2021, mistook the ball hit by Buttler for the moon during commentary. Watson confused the ball for the moon when the replay of Buttler's six was played. “Isn’t that incredible, the beauty of the earth that we live on,” Watson said on-air looking at the footage of the ball before being corrected by his fellow commentator. The clip of Watson's error soon went viral on social media. Watch video: pic.twitter.com/tZ0s7rx0FE — Sunaina Gosh (@Sunainagosh7) October 30, 2021 × pic.twitter.com/tZ0s7rx0FE — Sunaina Gosh (@Sunainagosh7) October 30, 2021 × Talking about the game, England won the toss and put Australia to bat first in Dubai. The Aussies were off to an awful start as they lost David Warner (1) and Steve Smith (1) in quick succession before Glenn Maxwell (6) also departed cheaply. It was skipper Aaron Finch's 44 and contributions from Matthew Wade (18) and Ashton Agar (20) which helped the Aussies post a low-key 125 runs on the board. England openers Jason Roy and Jos Buttler shared an opening stand of 66 runs for the first wicket and set the stage for a comfortable win for the Eoin Morgan-led side. Buttler went on to score an unbeaten 71 as England chased down the target of 126 runs with 8.2 overs to spare to keep their unbeaten streak intact in the T20 World Cup 2021.

Shane Watson confuses ball for the moon after Jos Buttler's massive six in T20 WC, video gies viral - WATCH

India and New Zealand are all set to lock horns in a must-win Super 12 clash in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). The much-anticipated encounter will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai. The game is touted as a 'virtual quarterfinal' and is likely to decide the fate of the two teams in the tournament.

While a win tonight will see India remain in the race to finish in the top four, a defeat might significantly damage their chances of qualifying for the semifinals after the ten-wicket defeat against Pakistan in the opener.&nbsp;India ae currently placed fifth on the points table while New Zealand are fourth after defeats in their respective opening matches against Pakistan.

The winner of Sunday's clash will be in a strong position to finish second and qualify for the knockouts along with Pakistan, who have three wins in three matches so far. India and New Zealand will be meeting for the third time in the T20 World Cup with having ended on the losing side on both occasions so far.

While the two teams are among the most consistent sides when it comes to major ICC events, India have remained winless against the Kiwis in ICC events since 2003. The Men in Blue last won against New Zealand in an ICC event during the 2003 ODI World Cup and have since lost four encounters against them in ICC events, including two matches in T20 World Cup.

India's last victory against New Zealand in an ICC event came as many as 18 years back. Virat Kohli &amp; Co. will be eager to break the losing streak in Dubai on Sunday and end the Kiwi jinx to keep their hopes of qualifying for the semi-final alive.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shardul-thakur-to-replace-hardik-pandya-indias-predicted-playing-xi-for-new-zealand-clash-in-t20-wc-2021-425502">Shardul to replace Hardik? India's predicted playing XI for New Zealand clash in T20 WC 2021</a>

Here's a look at India's meetings against New Zealand in ICC events since 2003:

T20 World Cup 2007

India lost against New Zealand by ten runs in the group stages after failing to chase down the target of 191 runs. It was India's only defeat in their entire campaign as they went on to become the maiden T20 World Cup champions under MS Dhoni.

T20 World Cup 2016

India's second meeting against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup came in Nagpur, in 2016. The hosts lost the low-scoring game by 47 runs after being bundled out for a paltry 79 runs while chasing the target of 127 runs.

ODI World Cup 2019&nbsp;

India met New Zealand in the semi-final of the ICC ODI World Cup 2019. The bowlers did well to restrict the Kiwis on 239 before rain halted play and the match was forced into the reserve day. India got off to a woeful start in the run-chase the next day and the top-order collapsed in no time. Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni brought the Men in Blue close to victory with half-centuries apiece but failed to take them over the line.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/will-virat-kohli-co-break-the-jinx-a-look-at-indias-record-against-nz-in-t20-wc-ahead-of-must-win-clash-425268">Will Kohli &amp; Co. break the jinx? A look at India's record against NZ in T20 World Cup</a>

World Test Championship final 2021

India lost the final of the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship against New Zealand by eight wickets. The final was set up for a thrilling finish on the final day but Kiwi bowlers ran riot as India were bundled out for just 170 runs in their second innings and gave away the game.

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India and New Zealand are all set to lock horns in a must-win Super 12 clash in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). The much-anticipated encounter will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai.

India and New Zealand are all set to lock horns in a must-win Super 12 clash in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). The much-anticipated encounter will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai. The game is touted as a 'virtual quarterfinal' and is likely to decide the fate of the two teams in the tournament. While a win tonight will see India remain in the race to finish in the top four, a defeat might significantly damage their chances of qualifying for the semifinals after the ten-wicket defeat against Pakistan in the opener. India ae currently placed fifth on the points table while New Zealand are fourth after defeats in their respective opening matches against Pakistan. The winner of Sunday's clash will be in a strong position to finish second and qualify for the knockouts along with Pakistan, who have three wins in three matches so far. India and New Zealand will be meeting for the third time in the T20 World Cup with having ended on the losing side on both occasions so far. While the two teams are among the most consistent sides when it comes to major ICC events, India have remained winless against the Kiwis in ICC events since 2003. The Men in Blue last won against New Zealand in an ICC event during the 2003 ODI World Cup and have since lost four encounters against them in ICC events, including two matches in T20 World Cup. India's last victory against New Zealand in an ICC event came as many as 18 years back. Virat Kohli & Co. will be eager to break the losing streak in Dubai on Sunday and end the Kiwi jinx to keep their hopes of qualifying for the semi-final alive. Also Read: Shardul to replace Hardik? India's predicted playing XI for New Zealand clash in T20 WC 2021 Here's a look at India's meetings against New Zealand in ICC events since 2003: T20 World Cup 2007 India lost against New Zealand by ten runs in the group stages after failing to chase down the target of 191 runs. It was India's only defeat in their entire campaign as they went on to become the maiden T20 World Cup champions under MS Dhoni. T20 World Cup 2016 India's second meeting against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup came in Nagpur, in 2016. The hosts lost the low-scoring game by 47 runs after being bundled out for a paltry 79 runs while chasing the target of 127 runs. ODI World Cup 2019 India met New Zealand in the semi-final of the ICC ODI World Cup 2019. The bowlers did well to restrict the Kiwis on 239 before rain halted play and the match was forced into the reserve day. India got off to a woeful start in the run-chase the next day and the top-order collapsed in no time. Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni brought the Men in Blue close to victory with half-centuries apiece but failed to take them over the line. Also Read: Will Kohli & Co. break the jinx? A look at India's record against NZ in T20 World Cup World Test Championship final 2021 India lost the final of the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship against New Zealand by eight wickets. The final was set up for a thrilling finish on the final day but Kiwi bowlers ran riot as India were bundled out for just 170 runs in their second innings and gave away the game.

Winless in 18 years! Can Virat Kohli-led India break the jinx against New Zealand in ICC events?

India will lock horns with New Zealand in a must-win Super 12 clash at the T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). India lost their opening game against arch-rivals Pakistan by ten wickets which has done significant damage to their chances of making it to the top four as their net run rate has gone for a toss after the massive defeat.

A loss against New Zealand can prove fatal to India's chances of qualifying for the semi-finals. The Virat Kohli-led side will have their task cut out against New Zealand, who have never lost against India in a T20 World Cup match so far. New Zealand have won on both meetings against the Men in Blue in the history of the T20 World Cup.

India will be looking to field the best possible playing XI in the game which is being labelled as the 'virtual quarterfinal'. While India started their campaign with a defeat against Pakistan, New Zealand too suffered the same fate and lost their opening game against the Babar Azam-led side by five wickets.

India will be hoping to get the combination right this time around after the bowlers failed to pick up a single wicket in the game against Pakistan. The likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami all went wicket-less as Pakistan chased down 152 runs with all ten wickets remaining.

Many have called for the inclusion of Shardul Thakur in the squad in place of an out-of-form Hardik Pandya, who has struggled with the bat&nbsp;and has not bowled yet. Pandya has not been bowling due to back issues but was seen having a go with the ball in the nets a few days back. He might bowl a couple of over against the Kiwis if asked to do so.

Shardul is coming off a great season with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2021 where he picked up 21 wickets, however, he is unlikely to make the cut as the team management is reportedly keen on having Pandya as a finisher in the team. There were also reports that Shardul could have replaced senior pacer Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, who has been struggling with his form too.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shardul-thakur-unlikely-to-replace-hardik-pandya-as-india-keen-on-following-dhonis-csk-template-in-t20-wc-425239">Shardul unlikely to replace Hardik as India keen on following Dhoni's 'CSK template' in T20 WC</a>

However, the team management is expected to repose their trust in Bhuvneshwar for the New Zealand game and expect the senior pace to produce a better show on Sunday. India are likely to field&nbsp;the same XI which played against Pakistan, for the game against New Zealand. In case the team wants, they might play an extra spinner in form of R Ashwin or Rahul Chahar in place of a fast bowler.

India's predicted playing XI for New Zealand clash in T20 World Cup 2021:

KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami

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India will lock horns with New Zealand in a must-win Super 12 clash at the T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). India lost their opening game against arch-rivals Pakistan by ten wickets which has done significant damage to their chances of making it to the top four as their net run rate has gone for a toss after the massive defeat.

India will lock horns with New Zealand in a must-win Super 12 clash at the T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). India lost their opening game against arch-rivals Pakistan by ten wickets which has done significant damage to their chances of making it to the top four as their net run rate has gone for a toss after the massive defeat. A loss against New Zealand can prove fatal to India's chances of qualifying for the semi-finals. The Virat Kohli-led side will have their task cut out against New Zealand, who have never lost against India in a T20 World Cup match so far. New Zealand have won on both meetings against the Men in Blue in the history of the T20 World Cup. India will be looking to field the best possible playing XI in the game which is being labelled as the 'virtual quarterfinal'. While India started their campaign with a defeat against Pakistan, New Zealand too suffered the same fate and lost their opening game against the Babar Azam-led side by five wickets. India will be hoping to get the combination right this time around after the bowlers failed to pick up a single wicket in the game against Pakistan. The likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami all went wicket-less as Pakistan chased down 152 runs with all ten wickets remaining. Many have called for the inclusion of Shardul Thakur in the squad in place of an out-of-form Hardik Pandya, who has struggled with the bat and has not bowled yet. Pandya has not been bowling due to back issues but was seen having a go with the ball in the nets a few days back. He might bowl a couple of over against the Kiwis if asked to do so. Shardul is coming off a great season with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2021 where he picked up 21 wickets, however, he is unlikely to make the cut as the team management is reportedly keen on having Pandya as a finisher in the team. There were also reports that Shardul could have replaced senior pacer Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, who has been struggling with his form too. Also Read: Shardul unlikely to replace Hardik as India keen on following Dhoni's 'CSK template' in T20 WC However, the team management is expected to repose their trust in Bhuvneshwar for the New Zealand game and expect the senior pace to produce a better show on Sunday. India are likely to field the same XI which played against Pakistan, for the game against New Zealand. In case the team wants, they might play an extra spinner in form of R Ashwin or Rahul Chahar in place of a fast bowler. India's predicted playing XI for New Zealand clash in T20 World Cup 2021: KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami

Shardul Thakur to replace Hardik Pandya? India's predicted playing XI for New Zealand clash in T20 WC 2021

South Africa will take on Sri Lanka in match no. 25 of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2021 on Saturday (October 30). Both teams have so far recorded a win and a loss in their first two matches in the showpiece event. Both South Africa and Sri Lanka lost their respective opening matches before bouncing back to win their second game.

South Africa got the better of West Indies in their previous encounter to keep their top-four hopes alive while Sri Lanka defeated Bangladesh&nbsp;by five&nbsp;wickets. Quinton de Kock pulling out of the game against West Indies after refusing to take a knee to extend support for the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement become the biggest talking point from South Africa's win against Windies.

However, De Kock has since issued a statement explaining his side and apologising for not taking a stand against racism. He has also made himself available for the remainder of matches for South Africa. De Kock remains one of the best batters in South Africa's line-up and his return will be a huge boost for the Temba Bavuma-led side.

While their bowlers failed to impress against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka batters produced a clinical show to chase down the target of 172 runs with seven balls to spare in Sharjah in their last game. Charit Asalanka slammed a brilliant unbeaten 80 off just 49 balls while young Bhanuka Rajapaksa scored a 3-ball 53 to take their side home comfortably.

For South Africa, Dwaine Pretorius and Keshav Maharaj&nbsp;shone with the ball to pick up five wickets between them while Rassie van der Dussen (43) and Aiden Markram (51) impressed with the bat to help them attain their first win in the tournament.

Also Read:&nbsp;T20 WC: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-wc-decoding-pakistan-cricket-404-not-found-425180">Decoding Pakistan cricket: 404 not found</a>

In a recent T20I series played between the two sides, South Africa had thrashed Sri Lanka 3-0 but will be wary of the Islanders, who can spring a surprise on their day.&nbsp;

Sri Lanka vs South Africa T20&nbsp;World Cup 2021 today match prediction:

South Africa will undoubtedly start favourites against Sri Lanka with a head-to-head record of 11-5 in T20Is and 2-1 when it comes to T20 World Cup matches. However, Sri Lanka will be riding high on confidence after a massive win over Bangladesh in their last game and might surprise the Proteas. We are backing Sri Lanka to win this.

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South Africa will take on Sri Lanka in match no. 25 of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2021 on Saturday (October 30). Both teams have so far recorded a win and a loss in their first two matches in the showpiece event.

South Africa will take on Sri Lanka in match no. 25 of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2021 on Saturday (October 30). Both teams have so far recorded a win and a loss in their first two matches in the showpiece event. Both South Africa and Sri Lanka lost their respective opening matches before bouncing back to win their second game. South Africa got the better of West Indies in their previous encounter to keep their top-four hopes alive while Sri Lanka defeated Bangladesh by five wickets. Quinton de Kock pulling out of the game against West Indies after refusing to take a knee to extend support for the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement become the biggest talking point from South Africa's win against Windies. However, De Kock has since issued a statement explaining his side and apologising for not taking a stand against racism. He has also made himself available for the remainder of matches for South Africa. De Kock remains one of the best batters in South Africa's line-up and his return will be a huge boost for the Temba Bavuma-led side. While their bowlers failed to impress against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka batters produced a clinical show to chase down the target of 172 runs with seven balls to spare in Sharjah in their last game. Charit Asalanka slammed a brilliant unbeaten 80 off just 49 balls while young Bhanuka Rajapaksa scored a 3-ball 53 to take their side home comfortably. For South Africa, Dwaine Pretorius and Keshav Maharaj shone with the ball to pick up five wickets between them while Rassie van der Dussen (43) and Aiden Markram (51) impressed with the bat to help them attain their first win in the tournament. Also Read: T20 WC: Decoding Pakistan cricket: 404 not found In a recent T20I series played between the two sides, South Africa had thrashed Sri Lanka 3-0 but will be wary of the Islanders, who can spring a surprise on their day. Sri Lanka vs South Africa T20 World Cup 2021 today match prediction: South Africa will undoubtedly start favourites against Sri Lanka with a head-to-head record of 11-5 in T20Is and 2-1 when it comes to T20 World Cup matches. However, Sri Lanka will be riding high on confidence after a massive win over Bangladesh in their last game and might surprise the Proteas. We are backing Sri Lanka to win this.

SA vs SL, T20 World Cup 2021 prediction: Who will win today's match between South Africa & Sri Lanka?

Babar Azam is currently enjoying a purple patch as he continues to pile on runs one game after another for Pakistan in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021. Babar has been the highest run-getter for Pakistan in the tournament so far and has batted at an incredible average of 62 with 128 runs to his name in three matches so far. Courtesy of his batting heroics, Pakistan are unbeaten in their first three games in the Super 12 and look all set to make it to the semi-finals comfortably.

On Friday, Pakistan defeated Afghanistan by five wickets in a thrilling encounter to bag their third win in a row in the T20 World Cup 2021. Babar played a sublime knock of 51 runs off 47 balls in the game and achieved an elusive milestone in T20Is. The Pakistan skipper broke Virat Kohli's record to become the fastest captain to reach the milestone of 1,000 runs in T20Is.

Babar completed the feat in just 26 innings to surpass Kohli, who had taken 30 innings to reach 1,000 runs as captain in T20Is. South Africa's Faf du Plessis (31), Australian skipper Aaron Finch (32) and New Zealand captain Kane Williamson (36) are in the top five list.

Fastest to 1,000 runs in T20Is as captain:

Babar Azam (26)

Virat Kohli (30)

Faf du Plessis (31)

Aaron Finch (32)

Kane Williamson (36)

Babar has been Pakistan's most consistent batter in the last few years and the T20 World Cup 2021 has been no different as he continues to dish out impressive performances with the bat.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-babar-azam-and-asif-ali-help-pakistan-beat-afghanistan-by-five-wickets-425138">T20 World Cup: Babar Azam and Asif Ali help Pakistan beat Afghanistan by five wickets</a>

On Friday, Pakistan once again bowled well to restrict Afghanistan on 147/6 after being asked to bowl first and then chased down the target with an over to spare. Pakistan were reeling at 124/5 in the 18th over after losing Babar and Shoaib Malik n quick succession before Asif Ali played a sensational cameo to take his side home comfortably.

Asif Ali slammed 25 runs off just seven deliveries with the help of four sixes to help Pakistan make it three wins in a row and remain unbeaten in the tournament. Pakistan are all but certain to finish in the top four with three victories in their first three games as they have to face minnow Namibia and Scotland in their last two matches.

Babar Azam is currently enjoying a purple patch as he continues to pile on runs one game after another for Pakistan in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021. Babar has been the highest run-getter for Pakistan in the tournament so far and has batted at an incredible average of 62 with 128 runs to his name in three matches so far.

Babar Azam is currently enjoying a purple patch as he continues to pile on runs one game after another for Pakistan in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021. Babar has been the highest run-getter for Pakistan in the tournament so far and has batted at an incredible average of 62 with 128 runs to his name in three matches so far. Courtesy of his batting heroics, Pakistan are unbeaten in their first three games in the Super 12 and look all set to make it to the semi-finals comfortably. On Friday, Pakistan defeated Afghanistan by five wickets in a thrilling encounter to bag their third win in a row in the T20 World Cup 2021. Babar played a sublime knock of 51 runs off 47 balls in the game and achieved an elusive milestone in T20Is. The Pakistan skipper broke Virat Kohli's record to become the fastest captain to reach the milestone of 1,000 runs in T20Is. Babar completed the feat in just 26 innings to surpass Kohli, who had taken 30 innings to reach 1,000 runs as captain in T20Is. South Africa's Faf du Plessis (31), Australian skipper Aaron Finch (32) and New Zealand captain Kane Williamson (36) are in the top five list. Fastest to 1,000 runs in T20Is as captain: Babar Azam (26) Virat Kohli (30) Faf du Plessis (31) Aaron Finch (32) Kane Williamson (36) Babar has been Pakistan's most consistent batter in the last few years and the T20 World Cup 2021 has been no different as he continues to dish out impressive performances with the bat. Also Read: T20 World Cup: Babar Azam and Asif Ali help Pakistan beat Afghanistan by five wickets On Friday, Pakistan once again bowled well to restrict Afghanistan on 147/6 after being asked to bowl first and then chased down the target with an over to spare. Pakistan were reeling at 124/5 in the 18th over after losing Babar and Shoaib Malik n quick succession before Asif Ali played a sensational cameo to take his side home comfortably. Asif Ali slammed 25 runs off just seven deliveries with the help of four sixes to help Pakistan make it three wins in a row and remain unbeaten in the tournament. Pakistan are all but certain to finish in the top four with three victories in their first three games as they have to face minnow Namibia and Scotland in their last two matches.

Babar Azam breaks Virat Kohli's record to become fastest captain to score 1000 runs in T20Is

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has issued a warning to the Eoin-Morgan led side in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021. Vaughan wants England to win their upcoming Super 12 clash against Australia to consolidate their spot on the top of the Group 1 points table. Vaughan said he would not want England to face Pakistan in the semi-final.

Pakistan have been in brilliant form so far in the T20 World Cup 2021 and have been unbeaten in Group 2 with three wins in three matches so far. The Babar Azam-led side defeated India in their opening game before beating New Zealand and Afghanistan in their next two games to sit comfortably on top of the Group 2 points table with six points from three matches.

Pakistan defeated Afghanistan by five wickets at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on Friday (October 29) riding on the heroics of Babar Azam and Asif Ali. While Babar slammed a half-century to set up the run-chase for Pakistan, Ali finished with his amazing cameo of 7-ball 25 including four sixes in the penultimate over against Karim Janat.

While Pakistan look certain to finish on top of the Group 2 points table with three wins in three matches and two more games to go, Vaughan wants England to top Group 1 by beating Australia on Saturday so they don't have to face Pakistan in the semis.

“Tomorrow’s (Saturday’s) England vs Australia game is a monster. Whoever wins is going to finish top. I am sure Pakistan are going to finish top in their group. I would not want to face Pakistan in the semi-final," Vaughan said on Cricbuzz.

“I’ll be more than happy to play in the other semi-final and hope someone knocks them (Pakistan) out. We are a long way off from the final but they seem to have everything,” he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-united-against-racism-quinton-de-kock-joins-sa-teammates-in-taking-a-knee-ahead-of-sri-lanka-clash-425296">Quinton de Kock joins SA teammates in taking a knee ahead of Sri Lanka clash - WATCH</a>

Lauding Pakistan for their amazing show in the T20 World Cup 2021 so far, Vaughan said they have the right opening pair, an experienced middle-order and a brilliant bowling attack. The former England captain feels Babar &amp; Co. are a terrific side and look favourites for the title.

“In this Pakistan team, you have that opening combination (Azam and Rizwan), you have got that experience in the middle with Hafeez and Malik. Now, you have got finishers, and with their bowling combination, they look a terrific side,” said Vaughan.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has issued a warning to the Eoin-Morgan led side in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021. Vaughan wants England to win their upcoming Super 12 clash against Australia to consolidate their spot on the top of the Group 1 points table.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has issued a warning to the Eoin-Morgan led side in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021. Vaughan wants England to win their upcoming Super 12 clash against Australia to consolidate their spot on the top of the Group 1 points table. Vaughan said he would not want England to face Pakistan in the semi-final. Pakistan have been in brilliant form so far in the T20 World Cup 2021 and have been unbeaten in Group 2 with three wins in three matches so far. The Babar Azam-led side defeated India in their opening game before beating New Zealand and Afghanistan in their next two games to sit comfortably on top of the Group 2 points table with six points from three matches. Pakistan defeated Afghanistan by five wickets at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on Friday (October 29) riding on the heroics of Babar Azam and Asif Ali. While Babar slammed a half-century to set up the run-chase for Pakistan, Ali finished with his amazing cameo of 7-ball 25 including four sixes in the penultimate over against Karim Janat. While Pakistan look certain to finish on top of the Group 2 points table with three wins in three matches and two more games to go, Vaughan wants England to top Group 1 by beating Australia on Saturday so they don't have to face Pakistan in the semis. “Tomorrow’s (Saturday’s) England vs Australia game is a monster. Whoever wins is going to finish top. I am sure Pakistan are going to finish top in their group. I would not want to face Pakistan in the semi-final," Vaughan said on Cricbuzz. “I’ll be more than happy to play in the other semi-final and hope someone knocks them (Pakistan) out. We are a long way off from the final but they seem to have everything,” he added. Also Read: Quinton de Kock joins SA teammates in taking a knee ahead of Sri Lanka clash - WATCH Lauding Pakistan for their amazing show in the T20 World Cup 2021 so far, Vaughan said they have the right opening pair, an experienced middle-order and a brilliant bowling attack. The former England captain feels Babar & Co. are a terrific side and look favourites for the title. “In this Pakistan team, you have that opening combination (Azam and Rizwan), you have got that experience in the middle with Hafeez and Malik. Now, you have got finishers, and with their bowling combination, they look a terrific side,” said Vaughan.

T20 WC: 'Would not want to face Pakistan in the semis' - Michael Vaughan issues warning to England

England will take on Australia in one of the most anticipated clashes of the T20 World Cup 2021 so far. Both Australia and England have been unbeaten in the Super 12s and will be looking to continue their magnificent winning streak at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on Saturday (October 30).

England opened their T20 World Cup 2021 with a six-wicket win over West Indies in a low-scoring encounter before thrashing Bangladesh by eight wickets in their next game. Australia earned a hard-fought win over South Africa in their first game of the tournament before defeating Sri Lanka by seven wickets to make it two wins in a row.

It will be for the first time since the final of the 2009 T20 World Cup that England and Australia will be locking horns in a T20 World Cup game. Both teams have enough firepower in their batting line-up while their bowling attacks have also delivered the goods in UAE.

David Warner roared back to form with a 42-ball 65 against Sri Lanka while skipper Aaron Finch also looked in fine form for his 37 off 23 balls. The openers' return to form is a huge boost for the Aussies, who have a star-studded middle-order featuring the likes of Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell among others.

England opener Jason Roya also went all guns blazing in their last outing against Bangladesh and slammed a quickfire 61 off 38 balls laced with three sixes and five fours. It is expected to be a blockbuster contest when the two sides meet in Dubai on Saturday.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/will-virat-kohli-co-break-the-jinx-a-look-at-indias-record-against-nz-in-t20-wc-ahead-of-must-win-clash-425268">Will&nbsp;Kohli &amp; Co. break the jinx? A look at India's record against NZ in T20 WC ahead of must-win clash</a>

England vs Australia, T20 World Cup 2021 prediction:

Australia and England have a pretty even record when it comes to the head-to-head record between the two teams in T20Is. Australia have managed ten wins to England's eight in a total of 19 meetings between the two teams, with one game ending in a no-result. It should be a close contest in Dubai on Saturday but England's quality spin duo might see them edge Australia.

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England will take on Australia in one of the most anticipated clashes of the T20 World Cup 2021 so far. Both Australia and England have been unbeaten in the Super 12s and will be looking to continue their magnificent winning streak at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on Saturday (October 30).

England will take on Australia in one of the most anticipated clashes of the T20 World Cup 2021 so far. Both Australia and England have been unbeaten in the Super 12s and will be looking to continue their magnificent winning streak at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on Saturday (October 30). England opened their T20 World Cup 2021 with a six-wicket win over West Indies in a low-scoring encounter before thrashing Bangladesh by eight wickets in their next game. Australia earned a hard-fought win over South Africa in their first game of the tournament before defeating Sri Lanka by seven wickets to make it two wins in a row. It will be for the first time since the final of the 2009 T20 World Cup that England and Australia will be locking horns in a T20 World Cup game. Both teams have enough firepower in their batting line-up while their bowling attacks have also delivered the goods in UAE. David Warner roared back to form with a 42-ball 65 against Sri Lanka while skipper Aaron Finch also looked in fine form for his 37 off 23 balls. The openers' return to form is a huge boost for the Aussies, who have a star-studded middle-order featuring the likes of Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell among others. England opener Jason Roya also went all guns blazing in their last outing against Bangladesh and slammed a quickfire 61 off 38 balls laced with three sixes and five fours. It is expected to be a blockbuster contest when the two sides meet in Dubai on Saturday. Also Read: Will Kohli & Co. break the jinx? A look at India's record against NZ in T20 WC ahead of must-win clash England vs Australia, T20 World Cup 2021 prediction: Australia and England have a pretty even record when it comes to the head-to-head record between the two teams in T20Is. Australia have managed ten wins to England's eight in a total of 19 meetings between the two teams, with one game ending in a no-result. It should be a close contest in Dubai on Saturday but England's quality spin duo might see them edge Australia.

ENG vs AUS prediction: Who will win England vs Australia T20 World Cup 2021 match today?

India have had a disastrous start to their campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021 as they find themselves languishing at the fifth spot on the Group 2 points table in the Super 12 stage of the competition. India suffered a humiliating ten-wicket defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Pakistan in their opening encounter to make the worst possible start to the tournament.

The Men in Blue will have to bounce back to winning ways in the must-win clash against New Zealand on Sunday (October 31) as a loss can all but end their campaign in the showpiece event. The ten-wicket loss against Pakistan has done massive damage to India's chances of qualifying for the top four as the game against New Zealand is touted to be a 'virtual quarterfinal'.

Ahead of the all-important contest, here we take a look at India's record against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup.&nbsp;

New Zealand 2-0 India in T20 World Cup:

India and New Zealand have faced each other twice in the ICC T20 World Cup so far and the Black Caps have emerged victorious on both occasions. The Kiwis are unbeaten against India when it comes to the T20 World Cup and will be looking to keep their stellar record intact on Sunday.

India vs New Zealand, 2007 T20 World Cup

The first meeting between India and New Zealand in a T20 World Cup game was in 2007 when MS Dhoni &amp; Co. lost by ten runs in the group-stage clash. It was India's only defeat in the entire tournament as they went on to win the title after beating Pakistan in a thrilling final.

Batting first, New Zealand rode on Brendon McCullum's 31-ball 45 and cameos from Craig McMillan (44 off 23), Jacob Oram (35 of 15) to post 190 runs on the board. In reply, India came close but fell short at the end as they could only manage 180/9 in 20 overs to lose the game by ten runs.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shardul-thakur-unlikely-to-replace-hardik-pandya-as-india-keen-on-following-dhonis-csk-template-in-t20-wc-425239">Shardul Thakur unlikely to replace Hardik Pandya as India keen on following Dhoni's 'CSK template' in T20 WC</a>

India vs New Zealand, 2016 T20 Wolrd Cup

India and New Zealand met for the second time in a T20 World Cup game in 2016. New Zealand once again defeated the Men in Blue by 47 runs to make it 2-0. The game was played in Nagpur where the Kiwi bowlers ran riot against India.

Batting first, New Zealand could only manage a low-key total of 126 runs in 20 overs with the help of Corey Anderson's 34 and Luke Ronchi's 21. India were favourites heading into the run-chase but the Kiwi pacers bundled out the hosts for a paltry 79 to register a comprehensive win by 47 runs in the low-scoring game.

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India have had a disastrous start to their campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021 as they find themselves languishing at the fifth spot on the Group 2 points table in the Super 12 stage of the competition.

India have had a disastrous start to their campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021 as they find themselves languishing at the fifth spot on the Group 2 points table in the Super 12 stage of the competition. India suffered a humiliating ten-wicket defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Pakistan in their opening encounter to make the worst possible start to the tournament. The Men in Blue will have to bounce back to winning ways in the must-win clash against New Zealand on Sunday (October 31) as a loss can all but end their campaign in the showpiece event. The ten-wicket loss against Pakistan has done massive damage to India's chances of qualifying for the top four as the game against New Zealand is touted to be a 'virtual quarterfinal'. Ahead of the all-important contest, here we take a look at India's record against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup. New Zealand 2-0 India in T20 World Cup: India and New Zealand have faced each other twice in the ICC T20 World Cup so far and the Black Caps have emerged victorious on both occasions. The Kiwis are unbeaten against India when it comes to the T20 World Cup and will be looking to keep their stellar record intact on Sunday. India vs New Zealand, 2007 T20 World Cup The first meeting between India and New Zealand in a T20 World Cup game was in 2007 when MS Dhoni & Co. lost by ten runs in the group-stage clash. It was India's only defeat in the entire tournament as they went on to win the title after beating Pakistan in a thrilling final. Batting first, New Zealand rode on Brendon McCullum's 31-ball 45 and cameos from Craig McMillan (44 off 23), Jacob Oram (35 of 15) to post 190 runs on the board. In reply, India came close but fell short at the end as they could only manage 180/9 in 20 overs to lose the game by ten runs. Also Read: Shardul Thakur unlikely to replace Hardik Pandya as India keen on following Dhoni's 'CSK template' in T20 WC India vs New Zealand, 2016 T20 Wolrd Cup India and New Zealand met for the second time in a T20 World Cup game in 2016. New Zealand once again defeated the Men in Blue by 47 runs to make it 2-0. The game was played in Nagpur where the Kiwi bowlers ran riot against India. Batting first, New Zealand could only manage a low-key total of 126 runs in 20 overs with the help of Corey Anderson's 34 and Luke Ronchi's 21. India were favourites heading into the run-chase but the Kiwi pacers bundled out the hosts for a paltry 79 to register a comprehensive win by 47 runs in the low-scoring game.

Will Virat Kohli & Co. break the jinx? A look at India's record against NZ in T20 WC ahead of must-win clash

Virat Kohli-led Team India got off to a woeful start in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 as hey suffered a crshing ten-wicket defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Pakistan in their Super 12 opener last week. Questions have been raised over the combination used in the playing XI against Pakistan with doubts over Hardik Pandya's fitness and his inability to contribute with the ball.

Hardik, who didn't bowl at all in the second leg of IPL 2021 for Mumbai Indians, is unlikely to resume bowling soon in the T20 World Cup 2021. He also struggled with a shoulder injury while batting during the Pakistan game and was taken for a scan, which revealed it was a minor scare.

However, his poor form with the bat and the lack of contribution with the ball has led many to question his spot in the team. But Team India are unlikely to drop him from the playing XI for their next Super 12 clash against New Zealand on Sunday. As per a report in PTI, India are keen on following MS Dhoni's successful 'CSK template' and not chopping and changing much during the T20 World Cup.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/babar-azam-breaks-virat-kohlis-record-to-become-fastest-captain-to-score-1000-runs-in-t20is-425216">Babar Azam breaks Virat Kohli's record to achieve massive T20I milestone&nbsp;</a>

Shardul Thakur, who is being touted to replace an out-of-form Hardik in the playing XI, is unlikely to make the cut as 'no one is comfortable betting on Shardul the no.7 batter' for India, as per PTI. The report further adds that the team management believes number 7 is too high a batting position for Shardul, who is coming off a great season with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2021.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has struggled to find his rhythm and conceded 25 runs off his 3 overs against Pakistan, without managing a wicket, could have been sacrificed to make way for Shardul but the team management is likely to persist with the senior pacer against New Zealand.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/can-we-talk-about-cricket-md-nabi-tells-reporter-on-being-asked-if-taliban-will-question-afghanistan-team-425228">'Can we talk about cricket': Nabi tells reporter on being asked if Taliban will question Afghanistan&nbsp;</a>

India are in a must-win situation against New Zealand after a ten-wicket defeat against Pakistan which has done significant damage to their net run rate and their chances of finishing in the top four. A defeat against New Zealand on Sunday might all but end India's campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021.

Virat Kohli-led Team India got off to a woeful start in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 as hey suffered a crshing ten-wicket defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Pakistan in their Super 12 opener last week.

Virat Kohli-led Team India got off to a woeful start in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 as hey suffered a crshing ten-wicket defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Pakistan in their Super 12 opener last week. Questions have been raised over the combination used in the playing XI against Pakistan with doubts over Hardik Pandya's fitness and his inability to contribute with the ball. Hardik, who didn't bowl at all in the second leg of IPL 2021 for Mumbai Indians, is unlikely to resume bowling soon in the T20 World Cup 2021. He also struggled with a shoulder injury while batting during the Pakistan game and was taken for a scan, which revealed it was a minor scare. However, his poor form with the bat and the lack of contribution with the ball has led many to question his spot in the team. But Team India are unlikely to drop him from the playing XI for their next Super 12 clash against New Zealand on Sunday. As per a report in PTI, India are keen on following MS Dhoni's successful 'CSK template' and not chopping and changing much during the T20 World Cup. Also Read: Babar Azam breaks Virat Kohli's record to achieve massive T20I milestone Shardul Thakur, who is being touted to replace an out-of-form Hardik in the playing XI, is unlikely to make the cut as 'no one is comfortable betting on Shardul the no.7 batter' for India, as per PTI. The report further adds that the team management believes number 7 is too high a batting position for Shardul, who is coming off a great season with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2021. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has struggled to find his rhythm and conceded 25 runs off his 3 overs against Pakistan, without managing a wicket, could have been sacrificed to make way for Shardul but the team management is likely to persist with the senior pacer against New Zealand. Also Read: 'Can we talk about cricket': Nabi tells reporter on being asked if Taliban will question Afghanistan India are in a must-win situation against New Zealand after a ten-wicket defeat against Pakistan which has done significant damage to their net run rate and their chances of finishing in the top four. A defeat against New Zealand on Sunday might all but end India's campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021.

Shardul Thakur unlikely to replace Hardik Pandya as India keen on following Dhoni's 'CSK template' in T20 WC

Afghanistan cricketers have been continuously dealing with questions surrounding the affairs back home ever since the Taliban took over the country earlier this year. Afghanistan cricket team is currently in action at the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE and Oman as they seek to leave the political situation aside and focus only on cricket.

However, questions regarding the Taliban rule continue to haunt them even&nbsp;during the T20 World Cup. On Friday, Afghanistan skipper Mohammad Nabi was left surprised after a reporter&nbsp;questioned him about the Taliban 'government' during the post-match press conference after his side's 5-wicket loss against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup.

Nabi was asked by the reporter if the Afghanistan cricket team fears being questioned by the Taliban officials on their performances after they return back home. Nabi was left bemused and asked the reporter to instead ask questions related to cricket.

“Afghanistan have played very well and they have won two matches. Is there any kind of fear that when you return home, you will be questioned as the government and situation have changed?” the reporter asked Nabi.

“In this new era, Afghanistan share a healthy relation with Pakistan. Do you feel that the Afghan team will be strengthened because of this?” he added another follow-up question.

Nabi was clearly not impressed and responded -&nbsp;"Can we talk about cricket leaving aside the situation? It would be better if we talk about cricket. We are here for the World Cup after taking proper preparations. You may ask any questions related to cricket."

Watch video:

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Well done, <a href="https://twitter.com/MohammadNabi007?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MohammadNabi007</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PakvsAfg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PakvsAfg</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PAKvAFG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PAKvAFG</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pakistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pakistan</a> <a href="https://t.co/eJRfIdQVhA">pic.twitter.com/eJRfIdQVhA</a>
— Yusra Askari (@YusraSAskari) <a href="https://twitter.com/YusraSAskari/status/1454158555066650631?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The moderator of the press conference had to intervene and ask the journalist to stick to questions related to cricket. The reporter then said he was asking a cricket-related question to which Nabi replied it wasn't related to cricket. The press conference was shut soon after the controversial&nbsp;episode.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/babar-azam-breaks-virat-kohlis-record-to-become-fastest-captain-to-score-1000-runs-in-t20is-425216">Babar Azam breaks Virat Kohli's record to become fastest captain to score 1000 runs in T20Is</a>

Talking about the game, Afghanistan got off to a stuttering start after opting to bat first against Pakistan. But a 71-run stand for the seventh wicket between Nabi (35) and Gulbadin Naib (35) helped them post a fighting total of 147 runs on the board.

In reply, Pakistan rode on captain Babar Azam's 51 off 47 balls, and Asif Ali's sensational cameo of 7-ball 25 to chase down the target with an over to spare. Pakistan recorded their third straight win in three games and look set to qualify for the top four.

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Afghanistan cricketers have been continuously dealing with questions surrounding the affairs back home ever since the Taliban took over the country earlier this year.

Afghanistan cricketers have been continuously dealing with questions surrounding the affairs back home ever since the Taliban took over the country earlier this year. Afghanistan cricket team is currently in action at the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE and Oman as they seek to leave the political situation aside and focus only on cricket. However, questions regarding the Taliban rule continue to haunt them even during the T20 World Cup. On Friday, Afghanistan skipper Mohammad Nabi was left surprised after a reporter questioned him about the Taliban 'government' during the post-match press conference after his side's 5-wicket loss against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup. Nabi was asked by the reporter if the Afghanistan cricket team fears being questioned by the Taliban officials on their performances after they return back home. Nabi was left bemused and asked the reporter to instead ask questions related to cricket. “Afghanistan have played very well and they have won two matches. Is there any kind of fear that when you return home, you will be questioned as the government and situation have changed?” the reporter asked Nabi. “In this new era, Afghanistan share a healthy relation with Pakistan. Do you feel that the Afghan team will be strengthened because of this?” he added another follow-up question. Nabi was clearly not impressed and responded - "Can we talk about cricket leaving aside the situation? It would be better if we talk about cricket. We are here for the World Cup after taking proper preparations. You may ask any questions related to cricket." Watch video: Well done, @MohammadNabi007 #PakvsAfg #PAKvAFG #Afghanistan #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/eJRfIdQVhA — Yusra Askari (@YusraSAskari) October 29, 2021 × The moderator of the press conference had to intervene and ask the journalist to stick to questions related to cricket. The reporter then said he was asking a cricket-related question to which Nabi replied it wasn't related to cricket. The press conference was shut soon after the controversial episode. Also Read: Babar Azam breaks Virat Kohli's record to become fastest captain to score 1000 runs in T20Is Talking about the game, Afghanistan got off to a stuttering start after opting to bat first against Pakistan. But a 71-run stand for the seventh wicket between Nabi (35) and Gulbadin Naib (35) helped them post a fighting total of 147 runs on the board. In reply, Pakistan rode on captain Babar Azam's 51 off 47 balls, and Asif Ali's sensational cameo of 7-ball 25 to chase down the target with an over to spare. Pakistan recorded their third straight win in three games and look set to qualify for the top four.

'Can we talk about cricket': Md. Nabi tells reporter on being asked if Taliban will question Afghanistan team

There has been a long-standing debate over all-rounder Hardik Pandya's spot in India's squad for the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021. Hardik has not bowled regularly for over two years now and has been playing for the Men in Blue as a pure batter in the showpiece event in UAE and Oman. He also did not bowl for his Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Mumbai Indians in the recently-concluded 2021 season.

The Indian selectors were reportedly not in favour of keeping Hardik in India's T20 World Cup squad after he didn't bowl at all for Mumbai Indians in the second leg of IPL 2021 in UAE. However, it was MS Dhoni who vouched for Hardik's finishing skills and helped him stay in the T20 World Cup squad.

The selectors had made up their mins to send Hardik back home from UAE after the conclusion of IPL 2021 after he didn't bowl a single over for Mumbai Indians. However, Dhoni's backing ensured he was kept in the squad. Former India captain Dhoni is currently the mentor of the Indian team for the T20 World Cup 2021.

"The truth is that the selectors wanted to send him back to India after he didn't bowl in the IPL, but MS Dhoni (appointed Team India mentor) vouched for his finishing skills," a source was quoted as saying by Times of India.

The source further stated that it was not right to play an unfit Hardik and not give chance to someone else who has been doing well. Hardik sustained a minor shoulder injury during the India-Pakistan clash and looked in trouble while batting. He has not been bowling due to back issues.

"The whole mystery around his fitness has been going on for the last six months. You're now saying that he has a shoulder injury. In the bargain, you aren't giving a chance to a fit guy. You're playing an unfit guy who isn't useful to the team. It's not right. Because of him, you're neglecting other fit guys who have been performing well,” the source added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-ishan-kishan-and-shreyas-iyers-reactions-to-virat-kohlis-brilliance-in-nets-go-viral-watch-424867">Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer's reactions to Virat Kohli's 'brilliance' in nets go viral - Watch</a>

Hardik came out to bat at number seven during India's game against Pakistan in Dubai and could oly score 11 runs in 8 balls before being dismissed by Haris Rauf. He failed to connect a few deliveries and looked out of form with the willow.

Amid his poor run, there have been calls for the inclusion of Shardul Thakur in the side but it remains to be seen what combination will India go with in their next game against New Zealand on October 31.

There has been a long-standing debate over all-rounder Hardik Pandya's spot in India's squad for the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021. Hardik has not bowled regularly for over two years now and has been playing for the Men in Blue as a pure batter in the showpiece event in UAE and Oman.

There has been a long-standing debate over all-rounder Hardik Pandya's spot in India's squad for the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021. Hardik has not bowled regularly for over two years now and has been playing for the Men in Blue as a pure batter in the showpiece event in UAE and Oman. He also did not bowl for his Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Mumbai Indians in the recently-concluded 2021 season. The Indian selectors were reportedly not in favour of keeping Hardik in India's T20 World Cup squad after he didn't bowl at all for Mumbai Indians in the second leg of IPL 2021 in UAE. However, it was MS Dhoni who vouched for Hardik's finishing skills and helped him stay in the T20 World Cup squad. The selectors had made up their mins to send Hardik back home from UAE after the conclusion of IPL 2021 after he didn't bowl a single over for Mumbai Indians. However, Dhoni's backing ensured he was kept in the squad. Former India captain Dhoni is currently the mentor of the Indian team for the T20 World Cup 2021. "The truth is that the selectors wanted to send him back to India after he didn't bowl in the IPL, but MS Dhoni (appointed Team India mentor) vouched for his finishing skills," a source was quoted as saying by Times of India. The source further stated that it was not right to play an unfit Hardik and not give chance to someone else who has been doing well. Hardik sustained a minor shoulder injury during the India-Pakistan clash and looked in trouble while batting. He has not been bowling due to back issues. "The whole mystery around his fitness has been going on for the last six months. You're now saying that he has a shoulder injury. In the bargain, you aren't giving a chance to a fit guy. You're playing an unfit guy who isn't useful to the team. It's not right. Because of him, you're neglecting other fit guys who have been performing well,” the source added. Also Read: Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer's reactions to Virat Kohli's 'brilliance' in nets go viral - Watch Hardik came out to bat at number seven during India's game against Pakistan in Dubai and could oly score 11 runs in 8 balls before being dismissed by Haris Rauf. He failed to connect a few deliveries and looked out of form with the willow. Amid his poor run, there have been calls for the inclusion of Shardul Thakur in the side but it remains to be seen what combination will India go with in their next game against New Zealand on October 31.

Selectors wanted to send Hardik Pandya back but MS Dhoni vouched for his finishing skills to keep him - Report

West Indies and Bangladesh will lock horns with each other in match 23&nbsp;of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 edition, in the UAE, at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah on Friday afternoon (October 29). Both sides have had a torrid start in the Super 12 round with back-to-back defeats and are running against time to revamp if they need to keep their campaigns alive.

West Indies started off against England, after losing both their warm-up games, and were humiliated as they folded for the third-lowest total in T20 WC history (55). After the 6-wicket loss to Eoin Morgan &amp; Co., Kieron Pollard-led Windies improved by some distance but managed only 143/8, only to lose the contest by 8 wickets to Temba Bavuma-led South Africa.

Bangla Tigers, on the other hand, had a good start to their opening fixture in the Super 12, by posting 171-4 versus Sri Lanka. Nonetheless, their bowlers couldn't finish the contest despite the Islanders reeling at 79-4 at one stage. Losing to Sri Lanka by 5 wickets, Bangladesh were mauled by England by 8 wickets in their second encounter.&nbsp;

Which team will show drastic improvement and get off the mark and who will be the one stranded with no win after the Bangladesh-Windies clash?

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-ban-vs-wi-live-streaming-when-and-where-to-watch-bangladesh-vs-west-indies-match-424925">T20 World Cup, BAN vs WI live streaming: When and where to watch Bangladesh vs West Indies match?</a>

Match prediction for Bangladesh vs West Indies tie:&nbsp;Batting has become a lot easier in the T20 WC as compared to how it was in IPL 2021's final leg. The Sharjah pitch is now once again showing signs of having plenty for the batsmen. While it has not been a typical 200-plus high-scoring encounter, it has plenty for both batters and bowlers. Windies will be eager to get going with the bat after two terrible runs in Dubai surfaces. The world champions will, however, be desperate to get rid of Bangla Tigers' top-order and notch up their maiden win of the current edition.&nbsp;

A 170-plus contest is expected. Windies to get off the mark in Super 12 round on their third attempt?

West Indies and Bangladesh will lock horns with each other in match 23 of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 edition, in the UAE, at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah on Friday afternoon (October 29).

West Indies and Bangladesh will lock horns with each other in match 23 of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 edition, in the UAE, at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah on Friday afternoon (October 29). Both sides have had a torrid start in the Super 12 round with back-to-back defeats and are running against time to revamp if they need to keep their campaigns alive. West Indies started off against England, after losing both their warm-up games, and were humiliated as they folded for the third-lowest total in T20 WC history (55). After the 6-wicket loss to Eoin Morgan & Co., Kieron Pollard-led Windies improved by some distance but managed only 143/8, only to lose the contest by 8 wickets to Temba Bavuma-led South Africa. Bangla Tigers, on the other hand, had a good start to their opening fixture in the Super 12, by posting 171-4 versus Sri Lanka. Nonetheless, their bowlers couldn't finish the contest despite the Islanders reeling at 79-4 at one stage. Losing to Sri Lanka by 5 wickets, Bangladesh were mauled by England by 8 wickets in their second encounter. Which team will show drastic improvement and get off the mark and who will be the one stranded with no win after the Bangladesh-Windies clash? ALSO READ | T20 World Cup, BAN vs WI live streaming: When and where to watch Bangladesh vs West Indies match? Match prediction for Bangladesh vs West Indies tie: Batting has become a lot easier in the T20 WC as compared to how it was in IPL 2021's final leg. The Sharjah pitch is now once again showing signs of having plenty for the batsmen. While it has not been a typical 200-plus high-scoring encounter, it has plenty for both batters and bowlers. Windies will be eager to get going with the bat after two terrible runs in Dubai surfaces. The world champions will, however, be desperate to get rid of Bangla Tigers' top-order and notch up their maiden win of the current edition. A 170-plus contest is expected. Windies to get off the mark in Super 12 round on their third attempt?

BAN vs WI, T20 World Cup 2021 prediction: Who will win today's match between Bangladesh and West Indies?

A packed Stadium at the peak of its voice, a dramatic build-up to what has rightfully earned the tag of 'mother of all clashes'. The excitement level has sky-rocketed and the hype around the game is surreal, to say the least.

A packed Stadium at the peak of its voice, a dramatic build-up to what has rightfully earned the tag of 'mother of all clashes'. The excitement level has sky-rocketed and the hype around the game is surreal, to say the least. It's India vs Pakistan. Dubai is ready as another hero awaits his fair share of glory. It is not a secret that the contests between the arch-rivals have produced some of the cult heroes for both India and Pakistan, over the years. There is nothing better you could possibly ask for, as a player, if you can steal the thunder in an India-Pakistan game. Not many have had the privilege to experience that feeling but a certain 21-year-old did on Sunday. Dubai awaited a hero as did Pakistan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi stepped up to bowl the spell of his career as he tormented India in a matter of just two deliveries. Two deliveries were all it took for the tall and lanky left-arm pacer to completely shift the momentum in Pakistan's favour as the Men in Green sensed an unforeseeable victory. There is nothing like an India-Pakistan game when it comes to cricket. The sheer hype surrounding the game and the pressure of expectations of billions back home can often get the better of even the toughest of characters in either of the dressing rooms. But Shaheen Afridi had not even the slightest of signs of jitteriness as he took the ball for the opening over of what was going to be the start of a stunning spell. Three balls later, he was up against Rohit Sharma, someone who can single-handedly destroy bowling attacks on his day and can be unstoppable if he gets going. Afridi produced a sensational yorker first up against Rohit, pitched right on the middle stump line, the in-swinger trapped the Hitman plumb. Bowled at over 140 kmph, with a perfect seam position, the ball beat Rohit's flick and crashed into his back pad. Rohit was dismissed on a duck and Afridi continued his magnificent run of surprising openers with magical deliveries in the first over. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ICC T20 World Cup (@t20worldcup) × Afridi is one of the toughest bowlers to face in the first over of a T20 game. That's not a mere claim but a fact proven by stats since his T20 debut in February 2018. The left-arm fast bowler has picked up 22 wickets in 62 innings in the first over of a T20 game. Rohit getting beaten comprehensively in the first over might have come as a surprise to many, but not to those who have followed Afridi's first-over exploits in T20s over the last few years. He is just too good for even the best of openers in the world and the odds are against the batter when it comes to his first six deliveries in a T20 game. Afridi was off to a dream start and so were Pakistan. What better could they have asked for than getting Rohit on a duck in the very first over. But it was far from over as Afridi returned to pile more misery on India in his second over. If the ball to Rohit was brilliant, the one to get Rahul was nothing less than an extraordinary delivery. Afridi nailed an unplayable inswinger on the very first delivery of his second over to bamboozle an in-form Rahul, who was coming off a formidable campaign in IPL 2021. Rahul tried to play it across the line and was beaten thoroughly by the peach which crashed onto his stumps to send him packing for just 3 runs off 8 balls. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ICC T20 World Cup (@t20worldcup) × With those two deliveries, Afridi, playing his first T20 World Cup for Pakistan, announced his arrival against their most coveted opponent India in some style. In what looked like a repeat of Manchester 2019, a left-hand pacer once again wreaked havoc against the top-order and broke the back of the Indian batting line-up in a crunch game. Afridi set the tone for Pakistan and the rest of the bowlers did well to capitalise on the fabulous start as India could only go up to 151/7 in 20 overs with the help of captain Virat Kohli's patient 57 off 49 balls and Rishabh Pant's 39 off 30 deliveries. Afridi later returned to finish his spell with the special wicket of Kohli, sending him back in the 19th over to ensure there was no coming back for India in the game. To make it more special, the 21-year-old became the first Pakistan bowler to dismiss the Indian captain in the T20 World Cup. Afridi had done the damage in his very first over and the repercussions were felt throughout the game as India lost the plot with the ball after a terrible show with the bat. On a night when Afridi made the Indian batsmen dance to his tunes, none of the Indian bowlers managed to pick even a single wicket as Pakistan had a cakewalk in the run-chase. An unbeaten stand of 152 runs from Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan sealed Pakistan's first-ever victory against India in a World Cup match with 13 balls to spare. It was Afridi's magical spell that helped change Pakistan's fate at the biggest stages of them all in world cricket, helping them end a curse that had eluded them a World Cup victory against India. The Men in Green had not tasted victory against their old foes in a cricket World Cup before Sunday. But the 12-0 (7 wins in seven matches in ODI World Cup, 5 wins in five matches in T20 World Cup) streak was buried in Dubai as Pakistan won, and won comprehensively by ten wickets. 21-year-old Afridi won't forget his memorable spell against India in the years to come as he basks in the glory of his success against Kohli's men. Nor will Pakistan let him forget the spell that is one for the ages, and set up their most cherished win against India so far in the history of what has been one of the greatest rivalries on the 22 yards. Not that Pakistan have not earned special victories against India before but to beat them in a World Cup was a dream which remained unfulfilled for several yesteryear greats, who are now rejoicing the heroics of this young Pakistan side led by a young captain, on a mission to rewrite history. For Afridi, it is only the start of what can be a campaign to remember if he can continue surprising his opponents with his impeccable skills, finesse and pace. A naturally gifted fast bowler with an orthodox yet tricky release, he has a long way to go if he can maintain his fitness levels and let the fire in his belly burn in the matches to come. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Shaheen Shah Afridi: A spell that changed Pakistan's fate

Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan has sent out a message to the supporters of both countries ahead of his side's clash against Pakistan in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021. Rashid has called for peace and decorum to be maintained during the game between the two sides in Dubai on Friday (October 29).

Pakistan will take on Afghanistan in their third Super 12 match in the T20 World Cup 2021 on Friday. Ahead of the game, Rashid recalled the clashes that broke out between the supporters of the two countries during their last meeting in the ICC ODI World Cup in 2019.

During that&nbsp;match, a scuffle had broken out between the fans of Afghanistan and Pakistan outside the Headingley Cricket Stadium in Leeds. The clashes happened after an aircraft was spotted flying above the stadium with the message - 'Justice for Balochistan'.

Some fans had also clashed inside the stadium and had to be evicted by the security later. Rashid has appealed for peace this time around and said a game should be taken as a game at the end of the day.

“After the 2019 World Cup match, whatever happened shouldn’t have happened. But this is the kind of request to all the fans, whatever there is that comes at the end, at the end of the day this game gives lots of unity to the nations and brings them together, not to have those kinds of accidents.

“Definitely it’s always a good game against Pakistan, even when we played in the 2018 in Asia (Cup). And also in terms of the 2019 World Cup. But this game should remain as a game. I think it’s a request to all the fans to stay cool and calm and just enjoy the game. This game is all about enjoyment.

“The more we just focus on the enjoyment, and as we have seen in this game, things happen, accidents happen. So I hope they remain cool and calm and just focus on enjoying the game and who plays better on the day that team wins,” he added.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/who-are-they-to-off-air-me-shoaib-akhtar-slams-pakistan-tv-channel-after-spat-with-anchor-on-live-show-424948">&nbsp;'Who are they to off air me': Shoaib Akhtar slams Pakistan TV channel after spat with anchor on live show</a>

Afghanistan defeated Scotland by a huge margin of 130 runs in their opening clash of the T20 World Cup and will be heading into the game against Pakistan on a confident note. Pakistan, on the other hand, have recorded back-to-back wins against favourites India and New Zealand to get off to a brilliant start in the tournament.

It remains to be seen if Afghanistan can halt Pakistan's winning streak in the tournament and make it two wins in a row in the Super 12 stage of the tournament.

Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan has sent out a message to the supporters of both countries ahead of his side's clash against Pakistan in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021.

Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan has sent out a message to the supporters of both countries ahead of his side's clash against Pakistan in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021. Rashid has called for peace and decorum to be maintained during the game between the two sides in Dubai on Friday (October 29). Pakistan will take on Afghanistan in their third Super 12 match in the T20 World Cup 2021 on Friday. Ahead of the game, Rashid recalled the clashes that broke out between the supporters of the two countries during their last meeting in the ICC ODI World Cup in 2019. During that match, a scuffle had broken out between the fans of Afghanistan and Pakistan outside the Headingley Cricket Stadium in Leeds. The clashes happened after an aircraft was spotted flying above the stadium with the message - 'Justice for Balochistan'. Some fans had also clashed inside the stadium and had to be evicted by the security later. Rashid has appealed for peace this time around and said a game should be taken as a game at the end of the day. “After the 2019 World Cup match, whatever happened shouldn’t have happened. But this is the kind of request to all the fans, whatever there is that comes at the end, at the end of the day this game gives lots of unity to the nations and brings them together, not to have those kinds of accidents. “Definitely it’s always a good game against Pakistan, even when we played in the 2018 in Asia (Cup). And also in terms of the 2019 World Cup. But this game should remain as a game. I think it’s a request to all the fans to stay cool and calm and just enjoy the game. This game is all about enjoyment. “The more we just focus on the enjoyment, and as we have seen in this game, things happen, accidents happen. So I hope they remain cool and calm and just focus on enjoying the game and who plays better on the day that team wins,” he added. Also Read: 'Who are they to off air me': Shoaib Akhtar slams Pakistan TV channel after spat with anchor on live show Afghanistan defeated Scotland by a huge margin of 130 runs in their opening clash of the T20 World Cup and will be heading into the game against Pakistan on a confident note. Pakistan, on the other hand, have recorded back-to-back wins against favourites India and New Zealand to get off to a brilliant start in the tournament. It remains to be seen if Afghanistan can halt Pakistan's winning streak in the tournament and make it two wins in a row in the Super 12 stage of the tournament.

T20 WC: Rashid Khan urges for peace, requests to avoid repeat of 2019 clashes as Afghanistan take on Pakistan

West Indies skipper Kieron Pollard appeared to have 'retired out' during his side's Super 12 clash against Bangladesh in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 on Friday (October 29). The incident happened during the 13th over West Indies' innings when Pollard decided to simply walk back to the pavilion after taking a single off Taskin Ahmed on the third ball of the over.

Asked to bat first after losing the toss, West Indies got off to a poor start on a sluggish pitch in Sharjah on Friday. They were reduced to 3/32 inside seven overs as the batters struggled to get going.&nbsp;

Pollard, who came out to bat at number five, was also struggling to middle the ball and was batting on 8 off 16 balls when he decided to walk back to the dressing room in the 13th over. West Indies' score read 3/62 at the time when Pollard's antics left everyone surprised.

While no official reason has been revealed yet on Pollard's antics, it appeared to be a tactical move from the West Indies captain to retire out from the game as he was not able to accelerate properly in the middle. However, the move didn't work as Andre Russell, who walked out to bat next, was run out on the next ball and was sent back on a duck.

While the 'Retired out' rule states that the batter will be considered dismissed if he decides to walk back without the permission of the on-field umpire, Pollard returned to bat for West Indies in the final over and slammed a six off the last ball to finish with 14 runs off 18 balls.

Nicholas Pooran's quickfire 40 off 22 balls and Jason Holder's 15 off 5 deliveries helped West Indies post a fighting total of 142/7 on the board in 20 overs after a disappointing start. However, it was Pollard's antics that caught the eyes of the fans and left them amused.

Check out some reactions:

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Did Pollard really retire because he wasn't able to time the ball? Only good thing coming out of this WT20 for cricket, if so.
— Manya (@CSKian716) <a href="https://twitter.com/CSKian716/status/1454045826410418180?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Tactically, a batter retiring of their own accord might be the widely agreeable thing to do. The contentious bit will be when batters will chose to retire "hurt" and not retire "out". <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/pollard?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#pollard</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WIvBAN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WIvBAN</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WT20?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WT20</a>
— Mustafa Rangwala (@Mustimasti) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mustimasti/status/1454058948487614464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Why did <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pollard?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pollard</a> retire now? Was that a tactical retd. hurt? If that is the case, wouldn't that make Pollard a hypocrite? Wasn't he slamming Rakheem Cornwall for doing the same as he couldn't run in a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CPL</a> game? Also, I don't have a problem with it at all <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BANvWI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BANvWI</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ICCT20WorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ICCT20WorldCup</a>
— Rohit Balaji (@rohitbalaji95) <a href="https://twitter.com/rohitbalaji95/status/1454044761170579462?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Is that the first tactical retired out in world cricket, Pollard - 8(16).
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) <a href="https://twitter.com/CricCrazyJohns/status/1454044178313199619?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/someone-has-to-be-accountable-sandeep-patil-questions-unfit-hardik-pandyas-selection-in-t20-wc-squad-425013">'Someone has to be accountable': Sandeep Patil questions 'unfit' Hardik Pandya's selection in T20 WC squad</a>

What does the Retired out rule states?

The 'retired out' rule comes into play when a batter decides to retire without the permission of the umpire and doesn't have the permission of the rival captain to resume his innings. In such a case, the batter is considered dismissed and the dismissal mode is marked as - 'retired out'. A batter retires out when he decides to walk out despite not being injured or ill and doesn't resume batting.

However, in Pollard's case, he did come back to bat again and finished his side's innings. Though the West Indies skipper didn't appear to be hurt at any point while batting it remains to be confirmed by the team management if he was retired hurt or retired out.

If Pollard did retire out, it will become the first instance of a batter retiring out midway through the innings on his own will in T20Is.

West Indies skipper Kieron Pollard appeared to have 'retired out' during his side's Super 12 clash against Bangladesh in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 on Friday (October 29).

West Indies skipper Kieron Pollard appeared to have 'retired out' during his side's Super 12 clash against Bangladesh in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 on Friday (October 29). The incident happened during the 13th over West Indies' innings when Pollard decided to simply walk back to the pavilion after taking a single off Taskin Ahmed on the third ball of the over. Asked to bat first after losing the toss, West Indies got off to a poor start on a sluggish pitch in Sharjah on Friday. They were reduced to 3/32 inside seven overs as the batters struggled to get going. Pollard, who came out to bat at number five, was also struggling to middle the ball and was batting on 8 off 16 balls when he decided to walk back to the dressing room in the 13th over. West Indies' score read 3/62 at the time when Pollard's antics left everyone surprised. While no official reason has been revealed yet on Pollard's antics, it appeared to be a tactical move from the West Indies captain to retire out from the game as he was not able to accelerate properly in the middle. However, the move didn't work as Andre Russell, who walked out to bat next, was run out on the next ball and was sent back on a duck. While the 'Retired out' rule states that the batter will be considered dismissed if he decides to walk back without the permission of the on-field umpire, Pollard returned to bat for West Indies in the final over and slammed a six off the last ball to finish with 14 runs off 18 balls. Nicholas Pooran's quickfire 40 off 22 balls and Jason Holder's 15 off 5 deliveries helped West Indies post a fighting total of 142/7 on the board in 20 overs after a disappointing start. However, it was Pollard's antics that caught the eyes of the fans and left them amused. Check out some reactions: Did Pollard really retire because he wasn't able to time the ball? Only good thing coming out of this WT20 for cricket, if so. — Manya (@CSKian716) October 29, 2021 × Tactically, a batter retiring of their own accord might be the widely agreeable thing to do. The contentious bit will be when batters will chose to retire "hurt" and not retire "out". #pollard #WIvBAN #WT20 — Mustafa Rangwala (@Mustimasti) October 29, 2021 × Why did #Pollard retire now? Was that a tactical retd. hurt? If that is the case, wouldn't that make Pollard a hypocrite? Wasn't he slamming Rakheem Cornwall for doing the same as he couldn't run in a #CPL game? Also, I don't have a problem with it at all #BANvWI #ICCT20WorldCup — Rohit Balaji (@rohitbalaji95) October 29, 2021 × Is that the first tactical retired out in world cricket, Pollard - 8(16). — Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 29, 2021 × Also Read: 'Someone has to be accountable': Sandeep Patil questions 'unfit' Hardik Pandya's selection in T20 WC squad What does the Retired out rule states? The 'retired out' rule comes into play when a batter decides to retire without the permission of the umpire and doesn't have the permission of the rival captain to resume his innings. In such a case, the batter is considered dismissed and the dismissal mode is marked as - 'retired out'. A batter retires out when he decides to walk out despite not being injured or ill and doesn't resume batting. However, in Pollard's case, he did come back to bat again and finished his side's innings. Though the West Indies skipper didn't appear to be hurt at any point while batting it remains to be confirmed by the team management if he was retired hurt or retired out. If Pollard did retire out, it will become the first instance of a batter retiring out midway through the innings on his own will in T20Is.

Did Kieron Pollard retire out against Bangladesh? West Indies skipper's antics leave fans surprised

Former India cricketer Sandeep Patil has lashed out at the national selectors for picking all-rounder Hardik Pandya in the T20 World Cup 2021 squad despite him not bowling for his side Mumbai Indians in the second leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 in the UAE. Hardik didn't bowl due to back issues during the second leg of IPL 2021.

However, he was selected in the T20 World Cup 2021 squad as a pure batter and was also part of India's playing for the much-anticipated game against Pakistan on October 24. Hardik picked up a shoulder injury during the game and looked uncomfortable while batting as he could only manage 11 runs off 8 balls before being dismissed.

A number of experts have questioned his spot in the playing XI despite him not bowling for Team India. Former cricketer Patil said selectors should not have gone for him if he was not fit and that the all-rounder should have undergone a fitness test before being picked.

“His selection in the XI is up to the captain and the coach, and only the BCCI will know about it. But basically, if a player is not fit, then it comes to the selectors. If he didn’t bowl in the entire IPL, the selectors should have taken a call. They should have asked for a fitness test before including him in the team for the World Cup,” Patil was quoted as saying by the&nbsp;Times of India.

“Someone has to be accountable. There’s no comment from (India coach) Ravi Shastri. Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane said that he’s fit. How can you say he’s fit, if he became unfit during the match? I mean, this is the World Cup, not just any series or match,” he added.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/selectors-wanted-to-send-hardik-pandya-back-but-ms-dhoni-vouched-for-his-finishing-skills-to-keep-him-report-424938"> </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/selectors-wanted-to-send-hardik-pandya-back-but-ms-dhoni-vouched-for-his-finishing-skills-to-keep-him-report-424938">Selectors wanted to send Hardik Pandya back but MS Dhoni vouched for his finishing skills to keep him&nbsp;</a>

While he has not been bowling, Hardik has also struggled with his form with the bat and has looked completely out of sorts as a finisher. The big-hitter has failed to impress for Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2021 and didn't make an impact for India in the game against Pakistan.

Footage of Hardi blowing in the nets have emerged ahead of India's second Super 12 game against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup 2021. However, it remains to be seen if the all-rounder will contribute with the ball in the game on October 31. 
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Former India cricketer Sandeep Patil has lashed out at the national selectors for picking all-rounder Hardik Pandya in the T20 World Cup 2021 squad despite him not bowling for his side Mumbai Indians in the second leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 in the UAE.

Former India cricketer Sandeep Patil has lashed out at the national selectors for picking all-rounder Hardik Pandya in the T20 World Cup 2021 squad despite him not bowling for his side Mumbai Indians in the second leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 in the UAE. Hardik didn't bowl due to back issues during the second leg of IPL 2021. However, he was selected in the T20 World Cup 2021 squad as a pure batter and was also part of India's playing for the much-anticipated game against Pakistan on October 24. Hardik picked up a shoulder injury during the game and looked uncomfortable while batting as he could only manage 11 runs off 8 balls before being dismissed. A number of experts have questioned his spot in the playing XI despite him not bowling for Team India. Former cricketer Patil said selectors should not have gone for him if he was not fit and that the all-rounder should have undergone a fitness test before being picked. “His selection in the XI is up to the captain and the coach, and only the BCCI will know about it. But basically, if a player is not fit, then it comes to the selectors. If he didn’t bowl in the entire IPL, the selectors should have taken a call. They should have asked for a fitness test before including him in the team for the World Cup,” Patil was quoted as saying by the Times of India. “Someone has to be accountable. There’s no comment from (India coach) Ravi Shastri. Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane said that he’s fit. How can you say he’s fit, if he became unfit during the match? I mean, this is the World Cup, not just any series or match,” he added. Also Read: Selectors wanted to send Hardik Pandya back but MS Dhoni vouched for his finishing skills to keep him While he has not been bowling, Hardik has also struggled with his form with the bat and has looked completely out of sorts as a finisher. The big-hitter has failed to impress for Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2021 and didn't make an impact for India in the game against Pakistan. Footage of Hardi blowing in the nets have emerged ahead of India's second Super 12 game against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup 2021. However, it remains to be seen if the all-rounder will contribute with the ball in the game on October 31.

'Someone has to be accountable': Sandeep Patil questions 'unfit' Hardik Pandya's selection in T20 WC squad

Babar Azam-led Pakistan are&nbsp;on a roll in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021. They have emerged as one of the strongest sides in the tournament so far with clinical wins in their first two matches in the Super 12. Pakistan kicked off their campaign with a stunning ten-wicket win against arch-rivals India in their opening game before beating New Zealand next.

Pakistan dished out a brilliant performance with the bat and the ball in their opener against India. They bundled out Virat Kohli &amp; Co. for 151 runs before chasing down the target with ten wickets and 13 balls to spare in what was a fairly one-sided contest.&nbsp;

Against New Zealand, Pakistan bowlers continued their heroics as Haris Rauf picked up a four-wicket haul to restrict the Kiwis to 134/8 in 20 overs. Pakistan did stutter in the run-chase but eventually managed to get over the line comfortably to win by five wickets and move to the top of the table with 4 points from two games.

They will be up against an in-form Afghanistan side in their third Super 12 game on Friday (October 29). The match will be played at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai with Pakistan aiming to continue their winning run against the minnows, who registered a big win against Scotland by 130 runs.

Riding on Najibullah's cracking 589 off 34 balls and crucial knocks from Hazratullah Zazai (44), and Gurbaz (46), Afghanistan tormented the Scotland bowling attack to post 190 runs on the board before bowling the opposition out for a paltry 60 to clinch a massive win.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-investigating-new-ipl-franchise-owners-cvc-capitals-investments-in-betting-companies-report-424987">BCCI investigating new IPL franchise owners CVC Capital's investments in betting companies - Repor</a>

Spinners Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman spun a web around Scotland with the ball in Sharjah and picked up eight wickets between them to power their side to their first win in the tournament. Afghanistan bowlers will be hoping to repeat their heroics against Pakistan on Friday.

Pakistan vs Afghanistan, T20 World Cup 2021 match prediction:

Pakistan and Afghanistan have locked horns in a T20I game only once before and this will be the second meeting between the two teams in the shortest format. Pakistan had won the last game between the two teams. Afghanistan, however, might spring a surprise tonight with a strong bowling attack at their disposal.

Babar Azam-led Pakistan are on a roll in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021. They have emerged as one of the strongest sides in the tournament so far with clinical wins in their first two matches in the Super 12.

Babar Azam-led Pakistan are on a roll in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021. They have emerged as one of the strongest sides in the tournament so far with clinical wins in their first two matches in the Super 12. Pakistan kicked off their campaign with a stunning ten-wicket win against arch-rivals India in their opening game before beating New Zealand next. Pakistan dished out a brilliant performance with the bat and the ball in their opener against India. They bundled out Virat Kohli & Co. for 151 runs before chasing down the target with ten wickets and 13 balls to spare in what was a fairly one-sided contest. Against New Zealand, Pakistan bowlers continued their heroics as Haris Rauf picked up a four-wicket haul to restrict the Kiwis to 134/8 in 20 overs. Pakistan did stutter in the run-chase but eventually managed to get over the line comfortably to win by five wickets and move to the top of the table with 4 points from two games. They will be up against an in-form Afghanistan side in their third Super 12 game on Friday (October 29). The match will be played at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai with Pakistan aiming to continue their winning run against the minnows, who registered a big win against Scotland by 130 runs. Riding on Najibullah's cracking 589 off 34 balls and crucial knocks from Hazratullah Zazai (44), and Gurbaz (46), Afghanistan tormented the Scotland bowling attack to post 190 runs on the board before bowling the opposition out for a paltry 60 to clinch a massive win. Also Read: BCCI investigating new IPL franchise owners CVC Capital's investments in betting companies - Repor Spinners Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman spun a web around Scotland with the ball in Sharjah and picked up eight wickets between them to power their side to their first win in the tournament. Afghanistan bowlers will be hoping to repeat their heroics against Pakistan on Friday. Pakistan vs Afghanistan, T20 World Cup 2021 match prediction: Pakistan and Afghanistan have locked horns in a T20I game only once before and this will be the second meeting between the two teams in the shortest format. Pakistan had won the last game between the two teams. Afghanistan, however, might spring a surprise tonight with a strong bowling attack at their disposal.

PAK vs AFG, T20 World Cup 2021 prediction: Who will win today's match between Pakistan and Afghanistan?

Pakistan and Afghanistan will lock horns with each other in match 24 of the T20 World Cup 2021 edition, in the Super 12 round on Friday evening (October 29). Both sides have been on a roll so far in the showpiece event. It will be interesting to see if Pakistan continue to move ahead of their competitors in Pool B or whether the Mohammad Nabi-led Afghan side will derail their progress.

Pakistan started their campaign with a win and a loss in the warm-up games. However, they have stunned two big teams in the Pool B, beating India and New Zealand by 10 and 5 wickets, respectively, to bolster their chances of ending as the top-ranked side in the group. On the other hand, Afghanistan were clinical in their opening fixture as they beat Scotland by a whopping 130-run margin.&nbsp;

The conditions in Dubai will continue to have something for the pacers, spinners as well as the batsmen. Chasing side is expected to emerge on top. Who will have the last laugh this evening?

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-wc-david-warner-pulls-off-a-cristiano-ronaldo-by-removing-coca-cola-bottles-in-press-conference-watch-424942">T20 WC: David Warner pulls off a Cristiano Ronaldo by removing Coca-Cola bottles in press conference - Watch</a>

Let's take a look at the means on how to live stream or view the match:

Where is the T20 World Cup match between Pakistan vs Afghanistan taking place?

The T20 World Cup match between Pakistan vs Afghanistan will take place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.

What time does the T20 World Cup match between Pakistan vs Afghanistan begin?

The T20 World Cup match between Pakistan vs Afghanistan begins at 7:30 PM IST on Friday.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-wc-saqlain-mushtaq-takes-unique-step-to-keep-babar-azam-led-pakistan-motivated-during-practice-sessions-424979">T20 WC: Saqlain Mushtaq takes unique step to keep Babar Azam-led Pakistan motivated during practice sessions</a>

Where and how to watch live coverage of the T20 World Cup match between Pakistan vs Afghanistan?

The T20 World Cup match between Pakistan vs Afghanistan will be aired live on Star Sports channels - Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 3, Star Sports 3 HD. The online streaming of the T20 World Cup match between ENG vs WI will be available on Hotstar. The T20 World Cup matches will be shown on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 3, Star Sports HD, and DD Sports

Pakistan and Afghanistan will lock horns with each other in match 24 of the T20 World Cup 2021 edition, in the Super 12 round on Friday evening (October 29). Both sides have been on a roll so far in the showpiece event.

Pakistan and Afghanistan will lock horns with each other in match 24 of the T20 World Cup 2021 edition, in the Super 12 round on Friday evening (October 29). Both sides have been on a roll so far in the showpiece event. It will be interesting to see if Pakistan continue to move ahead of their competitors in Pool B or whether the Mohammad Nabi-led Afghan side will derail their progress. Pakistan started their campaign with a win and a loss in the warm-up games. However, they have stunned two big teams in the Pool B, beating India and New Zealand by 10 and 5 wickets, respectively, to bolster their chances of ending as the top-ranked side in the group. On the other hand, Afghanistan were clinical in their opening fixture as they beat Scotland by a whopping 130-run margin. The conditions in Dubai will continue to have something for the pacers, spinners as well as the batsmen. Chasing side is expected to emerge on top. Who will have the last laugh this evening? ALSO READ | T20 WC: David Warner pulls off a Cristiano Ronaldo by removing Coca-Cola bottles in press conference - Watch Let's take a look at the means on how to live stream or view the match: Where is the T20 World Cup match between Pakistan vs Afghanistan taking place? The T20 World Cup match between Pakistan vs Afghanistan will take place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. What time does the T20 World Cup match between Pakistan vs Afghanistan begin? The T20 World Cup match between Pakistan vs Afghanistan begins at 7:30 PM IST on Friday. ALSO READ | T20 WC: Saqlain Mushtaq takes unique step to keep Babar Azam-led Pakistan motivated during practice sessions Where and how to watch live coverage of the T20 World Cup match between Pakistan vs Afghanistan? The T20 World Cup match between Pakistan vs Afghanistan will be aired live on Star Sports channels - Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 3, Star Sports 3 HD. The online streaming of the T20 World Cup match between ENG vs WI will be available on Hotstar. The T20 World Cup matches will be shown on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 3, Star Sports HD, and DD Sports

T20 World Cup, PAK vs AFG live streaming: When and where to watch Pakistan vs Afghanistan match?