India vs New Zealand Prediction: The two teams have yet to lose a game in the World Cup so far

India and New Zealand are going head to head in the 21st game of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai City, India on 22nd October. The two teams have yet to lose a game in the World Cup so far. Who will win this game?

India entered this tournament as the top-ranked ODI team and has maintained its impressive form, winning all four of its matches thus far. They currently sit just behind New Zealand on the points table, with the latter holding a superior Net Run Rate (NRR).

As anticipated, India's batting prowess has been a cornerstone of their success. From the opening duo of Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma to the middle-order stalwarts Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer, all have displayed excellent form.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli stand as the top two run-scorers in the tournament. However, when facing formidable opponents like New Zealand, there is no room for complacency. The depth of the batting lineup remains largely untested and may pose a vulnerability should the top five batsmen falter. Encouragingly, the bowlers have played an equally vital role in the team's successful campaign.

Jasprit Bumrah, in particular, has been in exceptional form, amassing 10 wickets thus far, and he will once again assume a crucial role with the new ball. Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav have excelled during the middle overs, applying pressure and stifling opposition batsmen.

While Mohammed Siraj is yet to hit his peak performance, it's only a matter of time before he finds his rhythm.

The upcoming match in Dharamshala offers Indian batsmen an opportunity to score freely, provided they can weather the initial challenges posed by the new ball. It also provides the bowlers with the chance to exploit the favorable conditions. The absence of Hardik Pandya might necessitate a few alterations in the playing eleven.

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammad Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

In contrast to India, New Zealand didn't enjoy the best of form when the tournament commenced, facing defeats in bilateral series against both Pakistan and England. However, they have hit their stride at the perfect moment and displayed remarkable efficiency in their performances.

Despite the absence of two key players, Kane Williamson and Tim Southee, the Black Caps have not seemed out of their depth, whether in the batting or bowling department. Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra had a strong start but have somewhat tapered off in their recent outings.

Nonetheless, this has created opportunities for players like Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, and Will Young to step up and exhibit their talent. Phillips, in particular, is shaping up to be a reliable all-rounder and is expected to play a pivotal role in the matches to come.

Tom Latham, apart from his essential role in the middle order, has proven to be an excellent captain, effectively utilizing the available resources. Mitchell Santner has emerged as a prominent performer with the ball and currently leads the tournament in wickets with 11 to his name.

The pace attack, featuring Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, and Matt Henry, is notably robust as well.

Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (c & wk), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boul

In the seven ODIs played at this venue, the chasing team has emerged victorious in four of them. However, it's worth noting that the last two matches were won by teams batting first. Therefore, it is likely that the team winning the toss will choose to bat first. The pitch at Dharamsala presents its challenges for batsmen. Its hard surface with a notable grass covering allows the ball to skid and provides seamers the opportunity to generate significant pace and bounce. Batsmen will need to negotiate the new ball before they can confidently play more expansive shots.

The average first-inning score in the last five matches at Dharamsala is 195, and any total surpassing 250 will prove to be quite challenging to chase down.

The weather is expected to be cloudy, offering the potential for swing, with no forecast for rain and temperatures remaining below 20 degrees Celsius. Both India and New Zealand are among the strongest teams in this tournament and remain undefeated, making this a highly competitive match to predict. However, India appears to hold a slight advantage in this contest. Most of their players are in excellent form, with the batting being a notable strength. That being said, the Black Caps are expected to provide stiff competition in the middle.

Our recommendation is to bet on India for the win.