Two notable alterations to the Indian cricket team’s composition aroused eyebrows as they prepared to play New Zealand in the Cricket World Cup 2023. Upon winning the coin toss, Captain Rohit Sharma disclosed that the upcoming World Cup match would mark Mohammed Shami’s World Cup debut and Suryakumar Yadav’s inaugural appearance in an ODI World Cup.

A rather unconventional decision by the Indian team management left cricket enthusiasts intrigued. Opting to bench Shardul Thakur due to Hardik Pandya’s injury, the team now lack a pace-bowling all-rounder. Instead, they headed to the pitch with just five bowling options. Given the formidable form displayed by New Zealand’s batters in the tournament, this strategic shift raised questions about its potential risks.

After winning the toss, Rohit Sharma shared:

“We’ll bowl first. No particular reason, but we were training here yesterday and noticed a bit of dew coming in. The pitch appears promising, and we are confident in our chasing abilities. It’s crucial to maintain our momentum, irrespective of past results. This is a place everyone wants to play at, with its beautiful weather and stunning stadium. Unfortunately, Hardik is unavailable, as is Shardul. We have Shami and Surya in the squad.”

Tom Latham, serving as New Zealand’s stand-in captain for the match, expressed his inclination to bowl first as well. He noted,

“We would have chosen to bowl first too. The surface looks good, and we anticipate dew later on. Our focus is on performing well regardless of the chosen strategy. We find ourselves in a new ground with unfamiliar conditions, so adapting quickly is our priority. Our lineup remains unchanged for today, featuring three seamers and two spinners.”

India Playing XI:

Rohit Sharma (c)
Shubman Gill
Virat Kohli
Shreyas Iyer
KL Rahul (w)
Suryakumar Yadav
Ravindra Jadeja
Kuldeep Yadav
Jasprit Bumrah
Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Siraj

New Zealand Playing XI:

Devon Conway
Will Young
Rachin Ravindra
Daryl Mitchell
Tom Latham (w/c)
Glenn Phillips
Mark Chapman
Mitchell Santner
Matt Henry
Lockie Ferguson
Trent Boult