Williamson will return to action for the first time since recovering from his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury that he suffered during the IPL in March 2023.
Kane Williamson will be the cynosure of all eyes as the New Zealand captain will look to get maximum game time when the Black Caps take on Pakistan in the first World Cup warm-up match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium then on Friday.
Williamson will return to action for the first time since recovering from his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury that he suffered during the IPL (Indian Premier League) in March 2023.
Although the New Zealand commander was handed the captaincy mantle following a recovery, the 2019 World Cup player of the event will be conservative in his approach after a six- month lay- off.
New Zealand has been jolted with injuries as Tim Southee repositioned his thumb during the platoon’s fourth ODI against England, while Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santner suffered injuries.
Southee will be available for selection when the platoon begins its World Cup crusade with fast bowler Kyle Jamieson being drafted into the side as a cover.
Leg- incentive Ish Sodhi will look to make an impact along with spin bowling each- rounder Rachin Ravindra, who impressed with a three- gate haul against England.
Williamson, who’s set to play in his fourth World Cup, remains the fulcrum in the fur department, with Will Young, Devon Conway, and Daryl Mitchell playing the supporting places with the club.
All- rounder Mark Chapman will look to stamp his authority, while Tom Latham will take over the gate- keeping duties and it’ll be a test of character with New Zealand not naming a back- over gate- keeper for the event.
Lockie Ferguson will be itching to dish out bouncers along with his pace bowling mates on what promises to be a sporting track. The gate has traditionally supported batters, but the bowlers have bought swing beforehand in the innings when the game starts, and the baits get backing gradationally as the game rolls by.
Pakistan, led by Babar Azam, drafted Hasan Ali at the last nanosecond after Naseem Shah failed to recover from a shoulder injury, and the fast bowler will look to get a taste of Indian conditions.
While the triad of Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Wasim comprise the pace attack, Pakistan packed an redundant leg- incentive in Usama Mir.
Along with Babar, the likes of Fakhar Zaman, Imam- ul- Haq, Mohammed Rizwan, and Iftikhar Ahmed will look for a good megahit, as the men in herbage would like to make a statement in the World Cup after a disastrous Asia Cup crusade where they finished last in the Super Four stage.
The figure- up to the event has been huge, with vast security deployments in and around the megacity compass and the match being played behind unrestricted doors due to two religious carnivals climaxing on the same day.
Still, the colosseum, painted fresh and equipped with state- of- the- art installations, is all set to host the matches, with locals gearing up to substantiation another jubilee, this time the World Cup. Know More Latest Cricket News…
