The Indian cricket team has achieved a lot of success in the three formats of the game over the last two decades. In 2007, the Indian cricket team won the ICC T20 World Cup, and four years later, they won the ICC Cricket World Cup. Two years later, MS Dhoni led the Indian cricket team to the ICC Champions Trophy victory. However, there has been one team that the Indian cricket team has not defeated in almost last two decades in ICC tourneys. It is the New Zealand cricket team.
The Indian cricket team lost only one match in the inaugural ICC T20 World Cup and that was against New Zealand. In 2016, New Zealand beat India at home in the T20 World Cup. After that, in 2020 India toured New Zealand to play a 2-Test series under the ICC World Test Championship. Both games were won by the Blackcaps. In 2021, India took on the Kiwis in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship Final, and that also India lost.
Most recently, India played against New Zealand in the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup, where Kane Williamson and his team emerged victorious by 8 wickets. The last time India emerged victorious in ICC tournaments versus the Blackcaps was in 2003. India beat New Zealand by seven wickets during the 2003 World Cup.
In this article today, we will look at the playing XI of the Indian cricket team in that match and where those players are right now.
Openers in India’s last win against New Zealand – Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar
The iconic pair of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag opened the innings for India in that game. However, both of them got out early. Shane Bond dismissed Sehwag when he scored only one run, while Daryl Tuffey got the better of Tendulkar after he scored 15. Both Sehwag and Sachin have retired now.
Middle Order – Sourav Ganguly, Mohammad Kaif and Rahul Dravid
Sourav Ganguly captained India in that match. Shane Bond rattled his stumps when he was on the score of 3. Dada is now the BCCI President. Mohammad Kaif and Rahul Dravid were the heroes for India in that match. The two middle-order batters had an unbeaten partnership of 129 runs for the fourth wicket that helped India win. Both have retired and now work as coaches.
All-rounders of India in last ICC tourney win against New Zealand – Yuvraj Singh, Dinesh Mongia and Harbhajan Singh
Yuvraj Singh neither batted nor bowled in that game. He has retired now but playing in T20 leagues. Dinesh Mongia took a wicket off the only ball he bowled. Mongia did not as well. Harbhajan Singh bowled a ten-over spell, scalping 2 wickets while conceding 28 runs. Singh is still playing and is yet to retire.
Bowlers – Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra and Javagal Srinath
The trio of Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra and Javagal Srinath led the Indian pace attack in that game. All three have retired now. They bowled a total of 26 overs in that match and picked up six wickets, with four of them going into Zaheer’s account.
