The last time India met New Zealand, in a warm-up match before the start of the 2019 World Cup, they were routed by six wickets after being dismissed for 179.
Both teams have since begun their respective World Cup campaigns undefeated. While New Zealand have won each of their first three games so far, and are sitting on top of the table, India have beaten South Africa and Australia in their first two matches.
Both teams have their obvious stars, including modern-day greats such as Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson and MS Dhoni that would fit into any world-beating XI. In preparation for their clash on Thursday, June 13, we put together a combined XI, featuring the best from both sides.
Rohit Sharma (8189 runs @ 48.17; 23 100s)
Ranked world No. 2 in the ICC ODI batting rankings, behind his captain Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma has been one of the best openers in limited-overs cricket, since he was promoted to the position in 2013.
He is the holder of multiple world records, including three double-hundreds in ODIs, making him the only batsman ever to have crossed the 200-run mark on more than one occasion in the format, as well as the highest individual score in one-day internationals: 264. Since the start of 2015, he has also hit the most number of sixes in ODI cricket – 146 – and has been a lynchpin of the Indian top order for the last six years.
Martin Guptill (6538 runs @ 43.58; 16 100s)
Boult is New Zealand’s most successful bowler, across formats, over the last four years. Boult, who looked up to Wasim Akram in his early days, brings searing pace and pinpoint accuracy, like his idol. He is currently second-ranked, behind Bumrah, on the ODI table, and was one of the driving forces behind New Zealand’s smashing run to their maiden World Cup final, in 2015.
