Gautam Gambhir has opined that India can record its first-ever T20 World Cup win against the New Zealand cricket team later this year in the United Arab Emirates. In case you didn’t know, New Zealand have always defeated India in their ICC T20 World Cup encounters. This year, the two teams are in Group 2 of the Super 12 round.
India will open their campaign against a team that they have never lost to, Pakistan, and then face a team that they have never defeated, New Zealand. Speaking on Star Sports’ show Game Plan, Gautam Gambhir said that the head-to-head record of the teams will not matter when they face off in ICC T20 World Cup 2021.
“The records do not matter for the players at all and they do not think about them as well. Yes, you can think about your individual record. If a player is struggling against a particular bowler, that can be on his mind. But Pakistan having never won against India and India having never won against New Zealand, that never matters,” Gautam Gambhir said.
Fans should note that India had a similar draw in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. They had battled against a team that they never lost to, Pakistan, in their first match. Then, they played their second a match that they had never defeated in a 50-over World Cup match, South Africa. India defeated both teams by considerable margins. Indian fans will hope for a similar performance from the Men in Blue this year.
It will not be easy for New Zealand to defeat India: Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir concluded by saying that the firepower that the current Indian cricket team has, can help them record their maiden win against New Zealand in ICC T20 World Cup matches. In Gambhir’s opinion, defeating India will be a tough task for the Blackcaps.
“India can definitely defeat New Zealand, you have the firepower. You have Jasprit Bumrah, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul – when you have batsmen and bowlers like these, it will not be easy for New Zealand,” Gambhir added.
