World Cup 2019, India v New Zealand: One change which both teams could make

The 18th match of the ICC World Cup 2019 will see India take on New Zealand at Trent Bridge, Nottingham on Thursday. Both India and New Zealand are unbeaten so far in the tournament. India have beaten South Africa and Australia, while New Zealand have triumphed over Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.

Leading up to the World Cup, New Zealand and India featured in a bilateral series in New Zealand, with India winning it 4-1. However, New Zealand bowled out India for 179 runs in a warm-up game and won the match convincingly by six wickets.

In this article, we will look at one change which both teams could make, ahead of Thursday's mega-clash.

New Zealand - Henry Nicholls in place of Colin Munro

Henry Nicholls can provide solidity to New Zealand at top of the order

Barring a fifty in New Zealand’s opening game against Sri Lanka, Colin Munro has thus far failed to make an impact in ODIs since the start of the year. When India toured New Zealand earlier this year, Indian pacers had the wood over Munro – allowing him to score only 70 runs across four ODIs at an average of 17.50.

Even in the warm-up match against India, Jasprit Bumrah got rid of Munro early into the innings with an accurate yorker. In his last two innings against Bangladesh and Afghanistan (lweaker teams as compared to India), he struggled to find his rhythm before getting out in the 20s.

New Zealand can replace Munro with Henry Nicholls, who has a better ODI record than Munro and can provide stability to New Zealand at the top of the order. Nicholls averages 35.48 (9.44 runs per innings more than Munro) from 41 matches and has eight fifties and one hundred to his name.

India - Ravindra Jadeja in place of Kedar Jadhav

Ravindra Jadeja will add dynamism to Indian playing 11

Trent Bridge is one of the highest scoring grounds in England. Flat pitch and short boundaries have resulted in several scores in excess of 380 at this venue. A run fest can be expected on Thursday. Considering this, India might be tempted to play an extra bowler against New Zealand.

Ravindra Jadeja, who scored a half-century against the Black Caps in the warm-up game, can be brought into the side at the expense of Kedar Jadhav. Jadhav wasn’t required with the bat against Australia and with the ball, he conceded 14 runs in his solitary over. After that, Virat Kohli didn’t entrust him with another over – which clearly shows that the skipper lacked the confidence to give him the ball at a crucial juncture. Plus, with India’s top six (including Hardik Pandya) in fine form, India doesn’t need another specialist batsman.

The fact that New Zealand struggled against Shakib Al Hasan further substantiates the call to bring in Jadeja. Also, New Zealand will field left-arm orthodox Mitchell Santner as their only spinner – with his stock ball turning into the left-hander, it will be prudent to go for horses for courses and swap Jadhav for Jadeja.