India vs New Zealand: Virat Kohli-Kane Williamson showdown high point in rivalry

Virat Kohli’s Indian cricket team are all set to take on New Zealand in three ODIs and three Twenty20 Internationals but they will not take Kane Williamson’s side lightly. The Kiwis will be bidding to win an ODI series in India for the first time.

Kane Williamson v Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli’s Indian cricket team will be aiming to continue their dominance as they aim to become No.1 in all formats but it will not be easy against a gritty New Zealand side.(HT Photo)

It’s the clash everyone is looking forward to - Both are the captains of their sides, are rated as the best batsmen of their era along with Joe Root and Steve Smith, and bat at the No 3 position. But, when it comes to one-day cricket, Kohli is head and shoulders above everyone. In terms of hundreds, Williamson is far behind but his average of 46.98 is as impressive.

Kane Williamson and Virat Kohli are considered one of the best batsmen in the modern era. (Hindustan Times)

It doesn’t augur well for New Zealand, that the Indian captain failed to convert his starts into a century against Australia, which is rare for him, and he will be hungry to add to his tally of 30 hundreds.

Yuzvendra Chahal was the star in the recent series against Australia while Ross Taylor has often struggled to combat spin. (HT Photo)

Yuzvendra Chahal v Ross Taylor

Middle-order clashes are crucial in 50-over games. It is a new-looking inexperienced middle-order for New Zealand. Negotiating the Indian spinners will be a challenge and the pressure will be on the 33-year-old Ross Taylor to hold the innings together. How Taylor tackles the leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal could hold the key. Chahal is developing a tendency to target the opposition’s key batsman the way he showed by taking out Glenn Maxwell five out of five times against Australia.

Martin Guptill will be the key at the top of the order while Jasprit Bumrah’s accuracy at the start and the death will be vital for India. (HT Photo)

Jasprit Bumrah v Martin Guptill

Martin Guptill, who boasts of the second highest score in one-day cricket (237 not out), is among the breed of batsmen against whom the only option to keep them quiet is to get them early. For India’s strike bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, it will be the big task first-up. Guptill will be keen to make amends for his below-par showing in the last series here, when he got only one half-century.

On the other hand, Bumrah has emerged as a potent bowler in limited overs cricket and Guptill would have seen a bit of him, during his days with the Mumbai Indians.

Rohit Sharma has averaged over 70 in two series while Trent Boult bowled well in the last series against India. (HT Photo)

Rohit Sharma v Trent Boult

One of the most devastating one-day batsman, Rohit Sharma in the best form of his career, averaging 76, 75.50 and 59.20 in his last three series. For New Zealand, as Rohit himself pointed out, left-arm pacer Trent Boult has warmed up nicely for the contest, claiming five for 38 in the first warmup match. Boult had got Rohit out twice in the closely fought last series in October, 2016, picking up six wickets in four matches he played in.

Hardik Pandya was the difference-maker in the series against Australia with his all-round abilities. (HT Photo)

Hardik Pandya v Mitchell Santner

Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner was among New Zealand’s most economical bowlers in the last series here, not conceding more than 50 runs in any of the matches. For India, Hardik Pandya has emerged as a weapon when they want to target spin bowling during the middle overs. It was seen in the way, Pandya went after Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa, taking him for 23 runs in one over in Chennai.