Temperatures are set to rise on Sunday, though, when the only two unbeaten teams at the Cricket World Cup meet. New Zealand and hosts India are 4-0 in the tournament, although the 2019 runners-up New Zealander lead on net run rate.
“We don’t want to read too much into it . Every team in this tournament can win on its day and we have seen that already,” said New Zealand left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner after the win against Afghanistan. Despite the difference in their styles of play, the winning records leave New Zealand and India separated only on that net run-rate — New Zealand’s +1.923 ahead of India’s +1.659.
“Picking up wickets in the middle overs helps us control the run rates. We have managed to do that in all our games," said India wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav after the win against Bangladesh."We have started well in the powerplays too, except against Bangladesh. It allows us spinners to control as well.”
Suryakumar Yadav is expected to get a game on Sunday and bat at No. 6. But India’s worry will be balancing out the bowling attack, as none of the top-order batsmen can reliably bowl.