India is one of the best teams in international cricket. They boast a strong bowling line-up in the presence of bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and others. On the other hand, no question can be raised on their batting line-up that comprises of players like Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli. They have a long list of match-winners that can any day win games for the team.
Indian cricket team has performed exceptionally well in international cricket in the last decade. But, if we have a look at Team India’s past six-year record in ICC events then we will come to know that they are the new chokers in the making. They have lost two big finals and three semi-finals in an ICC-organized tournament.
Can India finish their seven-year ICC trophy drought against New Zealand in WTC Final
Team India have suffered defeat back in 2007 in a World T20 league match that was played at Johannesburg followed by their defeat in the 2016 T20 World Cup, 2019 50-over World Cup, and WTC two-Test series in New Zealand.
Now, they are set to take the field against the Kiwi side in the ICC-organized World Test Championship final. Team India has a horrendous record against New Zealand in ICC events. They have not won a single game in the last 17-year-old against New Zealand in an ICC tournament.
Team India’s record in the past 6 years in ICC events shows that they choked in important games like semi-finals and final.
Team India’s performance in the league stage of all the last six ICC events was quite brilliant. But, they failed in sustaining the pressure of the semi-finals and finals in the past six ICC events. Interestingly, in the presence of players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, and others they ended up losing on all the occasions.
Team India choked 5 times in the past 5 ICC events as they lost two finals and three semi-finals. Adding more to India’s misery, they have not managed a single win against New Zealand in an ICC event in the past 17 years. And, there is no doubt over the fact that Virat Kohli & Co. will be under the immense pressure of winning the ICC trophy and finish their six-year-long drought.
Indian cricket team will have to produce exceptional performance in order to grab a win against an in-form side of New Zealand, who recently defeated England on their own soil in a two-match Test series. The game is set to begin on 18th June 2021 at The Ageas Bowl in Southampton.
Team India’s performance in last 6 ICC events in semi-finals and final
2014 T20 World Cup
India lost in the T20 World Cup finals against Sri Lanka by 6 wickets
2015 World Cup
India suffered defeat in the semi-final Against Australia by 95 runs
2016 T20 World Cup
India lost to West Indies by 7 wickets in the 2015 T20 World Cup semi-final
2017 Champions Trophy
India suffered humiliating defeat in the now defunct-ICC Champions Trophy final by 180 runs
2019 World Cup
India lost the semi-final game against New Zealand by 18 runs.
Team India’s performance against New Zealand in ICC events in the last 17 years:-
2007 World T20
New Zealand defeated India by 10 runs in the 2007 T20 World Cup league stage.
2016 T20 World Cup
India lost to New Zealand by 47 runs in the Super-10 clash of 2016 T20 World Cup that was played in Nagpur.
2019 50-over World Cup
New Zealand defeated India in a rain-interrupted 2019 World Cup semi-final by 18 runs
WTC two-Test series in New Zealand, 2020
In the year 2020, New Zealand clean-swept Team India in a two-match Test series that was part of the World Test Championship
The aforementioned stats shows that Team India has struggled to perform in crucial games of ICC events. Meanwhile, they have miserably failed against the New Zealand cricket team. And, if the same trend has to be taken into account then there is more probability of Team India losing the World Test Championship final at Southampton.