Ahead of the coveted ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 in the summer of England, Virat Kohli-led India, considered among the favourites to lift their third title will play 10 ODI matches. Off the 10, five are against New Zealand in the land of the Kiwis, a series which is considered to be India’s true test ahead of the World Cup.
The forthcoming series is a battle between the World No.2 and No.3 as per ICC ODI team rankings with both being equally dominant in terms of win percentage over the last two years. However, New Zealand are a better side, a more threatening team on their home turf, especially against India. The Blackcaps have defeated the Men in Blue 21 times in their 35 battles in New Zealand. And, New Zealand have a win percentage of over 75 on home turf since the 2015 World Cup losing only eight games out of 27 played.
If New Zealand can maintain their dominance on the home ground and register a dominating whitewash against Kohli’s Men in Blue, the Blackcaps stands a chance to gain the No.2 spot, while India will slip to the third. India are presently have 121 points in the ICC Rankings chart, while New Zealand stand eight points adrift.
