Welcome to Wisden’s live match blog for the T20 World Cup 2021 game between India and New Zealand on October 31 in Dubai – follow this space for live updates, commentary and real-time analysis from our on-ground reporter Aadya Sharma, along with score and where to watch information (TV channels, Live Streaming) for Ind vs NZ.

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India v New Zealand : Live scorecard, Prediction and Statistics

Summary: India fold for 110, NZ on course for big win

T20 World Cup 2021, India v New Zealand: Live updates from Dubai

We’ll be back with live coverage of tomorrow’s games. Until then, it’s goodbye from us!

New Zealand win!

That’s it, then. New Zealand hunt it down in 14.3 overs. 

A glorious inside-out four for Williamson, to follow the exquisite ramp he hit off a short one just earlier. In no time, he’s gone up to 31.

A consolation really, but good spell by Bumrah tonight. He signs off with 4-0-19-2.

Wicket! Mitchell c Rahul b Bumrah

A late scalp for India, but Mitchell has done his job and more. In comes Conway to help wrap up the chase alongside Williamson.

It looks like it’ll be the third loss for India at the hands of New Zealand in men’s T20 World Cups, having already lost to them in 2007 and 2016.

Over 12, New Zealand 94-1, Kiwis almost ready to wrap it up

Pandya is finally getting to bowl, but there’s little to play with now.

For those wondering about the net run-rate:

28 runs needed off the last 10 (overs, that is)

India’s dreams are crash-landing, and there’s wreckage all around. Thakur’s trying juicy back of length deliveries at Mitchell, who is smashing them over the infield with ease. It’s just been one disappointing night for the Men in Blue.

Over 9, New Zealand 69-1, Kiwis coast along towards small target

The Indian shoulders are drooping, a lot of dropped heads, as the fielders circle around, with the Kiwis taking their time to ease towards the score. Chakravarthy hasn’t done much wrong really, but with the target well within their reach, the batters have been content with nudging him around for runs.

50 is up for NZ!

It’s come at a good rate for the Kiwis, and they will be aiming to get their run-rate in order tonight. With this group set to get tighter, the run-rate is going to be even more crucial going forward.

Over 6, New Zealand 44-1, Guptill departs, but NZ cruise along

Shami has been brought into the attack for the first time this evening, and is greeted with a loud cheer.

Chants of ‘Jeetega bhai jeetaga‘ (India will win) still doing the rounds, right below the press box. That is some optimism.

Wicket! New Zealand 24-1, Guptill c Thakur b Bumrah

Finally, some respite for India, as Thakur juggles onto the catch.
14 days into the tournament, and a week after their first game, India finally have a wicket!

Chakravarthy is yet to make an impression, and the two batters have largely looked comfortably facing him so far. With no scoreboard pressure, Mitchell is affording himself an easy start.

Over 2, New Zealand 6-0, ‘Yorker-man’ Bumrah looks threatening

Bumrah, from the other end, is looking to target the batters’ toes, keeping it full and straight. He almost takes out Mitchell with a fiery yorker. Just going down leg.

Over 1, New Zealand 5-0, Guptill, Mitchell start watchfully

India will really need to have someone like Chakravarthy run through the top order, if they intend to make anything out of this game. It’s a small target though, and NZ batters will hardly be looking to take any risks.

Just the one slip for him, and a couple of fielders at deep square leg and long-on.

Back with the chase. Varun Chakravarthy to open the bowling.

We will be back in ten minutes with the chase.

Innings break: India 110-7 (20)

A couple of big shots from Jadeja has taken India past 100, but all in all, it’s been a disappointing batting effort. Not a competitive score by any means, and it’s going to take an extraordinary bowling effort to even make a match out of this one. None of the batters could really get going.

Each run is being cheered by the Indian supporters at the ground (as there’s a good number). Pity they have been a witness to an overall poor batting display.

Loud cheer for Mohammed Shami as he walks in. Lovely to see the support.

Wicket! Thakur c Guptill b Boult

No, he doesn’t. Boult has picked up a couple in this over itself. Will India fold for under 100?

Pandya goes after a scratchy, run-a-ball 23. Thakur is in now. Can he smack a few around? His strike-rate in T20Is is 197.14

Over 17, India 86-5, India’s innings gasping for breath

Pandya and Jadeja, two naturally gifted strokemakers, are having a hard time getting their shots out here. Pandya freed his arms with a slash over deep point, but they have really done well to keep him under check. The plan is to probably force shorter ones on him: there’s a deep square leg and deep midwicket pretty close to each other.

There have been no boundaries scored in the last 10 overs.

Five overs to go. Would be some effort if India even manage 125 from here.

Plenty of dejected faces in the Indian camp right now, and the cameraperson is making sure they’re captured. They went with a changed batting order, trying out Ishan for his World Cup debut. It’s been pretty poor batting since, not to take credit from the Kiwis who have maintained pressure to never let go of the advantage.

Wicket! Pant b Milne

Well, he had to go for his chances here. Gets an inside edge as he tries to launch Milne out of the park. Jadeja survives the very next ball. Where is this innings even going?

Over 14, India 67-4, Hardik, Pant left with a mountain to climb

Pant and Pandya are now actively looking for scoring opportunities here, even as the run-rate drops further. Just the six overs to go now, and one of them will have to really retaliate if India are looking to make a game out of it.

There’s still enough batting to come, with Jadeja and Thakur. Time for one of them to take their chances.

[caption id=”attachment_223541″ align=”alignnone” width=”800″]India New Zealand live With the top four back, India have a mountain to climb from here.[/caption]

The Indian batters dismissed so far would be kicking themselves for the manner of their dismissals. They were no demons on the pitch, no abnormal swing, no breathtaking pace. They just ended up choosing the wrong deliveries to hit out, and are in danger of ending up way shorter than they would have wanted to be.

Wicket! Kohli c Boult b Sodhi

The Indian batting today is derailing fast, real fast. Kohli becomes the fourth player tonight to hit the bowler out of the park and get out in the process, and ends up sending one down to the fielder at long-on.

India 48-3 after 10 overs, and they break for drinks. Only 13 runs in the last four overs.

With all three openers back in the hut, Kohli and Pant are adopting a restrained approach. Knowing both though, they’ll look for shots in the middle to release the pressure, and might even attempt to aerially go down the ground.

Wicket! Rohit c Guptill b Sodhi

Getting from bad to worse for India.

Rohit tried to take on the fielder in the deep, but just didn’t get any elevation. Thrice tonight, India’s batters have picked the fielder at the boundary. A combination of poor shot choice and placement.

Over 7, India 37-2, Williamson mixing up his bowlers well

Santner, followed by Sodhi. Williamson is looking to dry up the runs, and force India to make mistakes. Over the next five overs, these two will have to rely so much on running between stricks.

Again, it’s up to the big two, Rohit and Kohli, to rebuild the innings.

Wicket! Rahul c Mitchell b Southee

Rahul was looking a little rusty, not timing his shots like he usually does. An inside-edge luckily travelled down to the fine leg fence, and a couple of drives down the ground looked forced. He ends up sending one down the throat of deep square-leg. The timing was just not there.

Over 5, India 29-1, Rohit, Rahul search for boundaries

In his new batting position, Rohit was looking increasingly fidgety, still getting to term with the pace of the pitch. And then, came the trademark slash over the point fielder, followed by an exquisite whip over deep square leg. And suddenly, he looks as good as anyone.

Over 4, India 14-1, Rohit survives after Milne drops a sitter

This could be a huge let-off for India. It’s been a slow start already, and New Zealand had every chance to make it worse. Happens to the best though – Milne would be kicking himself, and hoping he gets to bowl soon.

For now, it’s spin in the form of Santner.

Dropped! Rohit survives…

That is huge! Rohit was almost on his way back for a first-ball duck, pulling it down to the throat of fine-leg. Milne positioned himself well, but ended up dropping a sitter.

Wicket! Kishan c Mitchell b Boult

Oh dear. He really picked the fielder in the deep, who had been stationed for exactly that stroke. On the pads, he flicks it aerially, and it lands directly into the hands of Mitchell.

Rohit Sharma in at No.3.

Well, technically…

India New Zealand live

Over 2, India 6-0, Southee follows up with another neat over

Southee almost had his man! Scrambled seam from him, Rahul tries to force it down the leg-side, but there’s not much on it. It lobs just over Milne at mid-on, and flies for India’s first boundary. Ooh, that was close.

These two continue to be watchful. Really the way to go right now.

Mind you, Kishan’s last three scores are 70 (46), 84 (32), 50* (25).

Over 1, India 1-0, Tight start from Boult

Neat, neat over by Trent Boult first up. They’ve kept a deep third man and a deep square leg for Kishan, and Boult is has pitched it in some really nice areas. What’s Kishan’s approach going to be here? I’d say keep it watchful in the first two overs, before going for a few shots.

Ishan Kishan will open with KL Rahul. Kohli to bat at three. Off we go!

17:50 local time, Dubai: We’re ten minutes away from live action, and the flags of the two countries are being displayed. We’re moments away from the national anthems.

India looks so much more balanced with Thakur in and Pandya (seemingly) bowling. Kishan’s form was too good for him to be left out, and Surya’s untimely injury has given them the opportunity to field him. Looks like Surya was asked to stay back in the team hotel after he complained of spasms.

New Zealand have brought in Milne, which Williamson says is a ‘tactical move’. A three-pronged pace attack (Southee, Boult, Milne) alongside Neesham would really test India at the start.

At the ground, R Ashwin is still bowling on one of the practice strips, alongside Rahul Chahar. Would love to see Ash playing in one of the games.

India XI: Rohit, Rahul, Kohli, Kishan, Pant, Pandya, Jadeja, Thakur, Shami, Bumrah, Chakravarthy

NZ XI: Guptill, Mitchell, Williamson, Conway, Phillips, Neesham, Santner, Milne, Southee, Sodhi, Boult

Toss: New Zealand have won the toss and will bowl first.

17:25 local time: Hardik Pandya has joined Jadeja and Bhuvneshwar for a bowling session on one of the practice strips. He started off gingerly with a two-step release, but has now switched to bowling from a longer run-up.

Just under 15 minutes for the toss now.

The run-ups have become longer as the toss approaches. Mentor MS Dhoni is around with the team, playing a bit of ‘keepy-uppies’ with the team. And now they’re in a big, proper huddle.

Loud cheer for Virat Kohli as he walks out with his bat, even as the seamers and spin slowly warm up on the practice pitches. On the other side, New Zealand’s bowlers are also turning their arms from both ends of the practice strip. Also, Kyle Jamieson is such an imposing presence on the turf, visible from a mile away.

31 October 2021, 16:45 local time/12:45 GMT, Dubai: The New Zealand players are already going through their paces, even as fans are slowly trickling into the stands. The Indian team has made their entry into the ground. Rishabh Pant, being interviewed by the broadcasters, gives birthday boy Ish Sodhi a salute-wave.

16:15 local time, Dubai: The same pitch that was used for the Australia-England game last night will be used today. England’s seamers made short work of Australia’s top order, and their batters hunted down the target with ease. The surface is hard, and looks like a good strip for a 150-160 run game.

15:30 local time: The stadium is being readied for what is being dubbed as a quarterfinal of sorts, with the victors from today likely to be the second team to qualify this time (with easier opponents to play next). For India, there are plenty of selection questions already (three Wisden writers pick their XIs here) – should Ishan Kishan get a look-in? Does Hardik Pandya still retain his place if he doesn’t bowl? Is Shardul Thakur a better bet than Bhuvneshwar Kumar?

31 October 2021, 14:45 local time: Just over three hours to go for live action to begin, and there’s already plenty of buzz around the game. Both India and New Zealand have played just one game so far in the competition, and enough has been said about their form already.

T20 World Cup 2021, India v New Zealand: Team news and injury updates

T20 World Cup 2021 India squad: Full team list for IND

T20 World Cup 2021 New Zealand squad: Full team list for NZ

T20 World Cup 2021 India v New Zealand: Where to watch live

India: Star Sports Network; Disney+ Hotstar

UK & Ireland: Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Mix; Sky Sports app, www.skysports.com

New Zealand: Sky Sports 3

The complete list of broadcast (TV and live streaming) options for the tournament can be found here.

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IndiaNew Zealand Series Editorial