IND vs NZ LIVE: With the ghosts of Shaheen Afridi’s deadly spell still etched in memory, India openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma will hope that the warm up games serve them well heading into Melbourne. Having dealt with Mitchell Starc with relative ease on Monday, India face a stern test in Trent Boult. Follow India vs New Zealand live updates on Insidesport.IN.
IND vs NZ LIVE: After Mitchell Starc, KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma face Trent Boult test before Shaheen Afridi showdown in Melbourne – Check out
Trent Boult has a favourable record against India and the Indian top order will face an uphill task on Wednesday. While Boult isn’t as quick as Shaheen Afridi, the Kiwi superstar is deadly with the new ball, generating massive swing with his angle to trouble right handers.
Boult has previously rattled the Indian top order, more famously during the 2019 World Cup Semifinals. While Matt Henry had accounted for Rahul and Rohit, the left armer had trapped Kohli in front to further the damage. In the 2021 T20 World, Boult was the pick of the bowlers, with figures of 3/20 in his four overs.
To India’s credit, both Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul shunned their weakness and took the attack to Mitchell Starc in the first warm up game. The duo managed 69 in the powerplay, with Rahul in particular scoring an aggressive half-century. Starc bowled a solitary over with the new ball, and finished with figures of 1/20 in his 3 overs.
IND vs NZ LIVE: After Mitchell Starc, KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma face Trent Boult test before Shaheen Afridi showdown in Melbourne – Check out
As for Shaheen, he has issued a fresh warning to the Men in Blue ahead of their clash in Melbourne. The 21-year-old hit the straps conceding just two from his first over, not allowing either of the England batsmen to get runs on Monday. In his second over he only gave away five finishing with a spell of 0/7 in his two overs.
“Feeling great to be back on the ground after two months. I missed the series in New Zealand and England, but I’m now very excited,” Afridi said while speaking with the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday.
Shaheen Afridi dismissed both openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma cheaply when India and Pakistan played the last time at the T20 World Cup. He then later got rid of Virat Kohli, setting up the Men in Green’s first success over India in World Cups.
The 21-year-old will once again have his tails up in front of a packed MCG on October 23. India will however hope to deal with the threat and hope playing Mitchell Starc and Trent Boult in the lead up to the clash pays dividends.
IND vs NZ LIVE: After Mitchell Starc, KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma face Trent Boult test before Shaheen Afridi showdown in Melbourne – Check out
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