It is that day during an ICC men’s tournament when it oddly feels different. If you are wondering if that has got to do anything with the weather, then you are wrong. It has more to do with India’s opponent for the day, New Zealand. This side is the perennial bogey team for India at ICC men’s tournaments. They have been a thorn in India’s side for a long time and it seems like something happens to the side when they take on the Black Caps.
Since 2003, India has not beaten New Zealand in any format of ICC Men’s tournaments anywhere in the world. This has been a record that India just do not know how to shake off as on that big day against New Zealand something just goes wrong. The only good thing that has happened to India is that both in 1983 and 2011, when they won the ODI World Cups, there was not a single game against New Zealand.
In 2019, the league game against New Zealand got washed out. The two sides did clash in the semifinal of the 2019 World Cup but that ended in a heartbreak for a billion-plus Indians. Of course, the fact that the iconic Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s career ended with a terrific run-out is something that no Indian will forget ever. Much like Dhoni, every cricket-loving fan across the world shed a tear for the great man as he walked away for the last time on the international stage.
That 2019 semifinal, too, was played over two days as rain played havoc on the first day. The reserve day was activated, and it created havoc for the Indian top-order as the conditions suited the New Zealand pace bowlers.
As luck would have it, around four years later, India is back playing New Zealand in almost Kiwi-like conditions in the beautiful Dharamsala. It will be cold; the ball will dart around a bit and the New Zealand attack will simply love playing India in such conditions. It will truly be home away from home for New Zealand. Right now, skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid will give anything to move to much warmer Chennai or Lucknow to take on New Zealand.
The New Zealand side, however, appear to be condition-proof in this World Cup so far, as they seem to have all bases covered with a well-balanced line-up. They have enough depth in batting and bowling with multiple options. This despite the fact they have only 13 to pick from for the game, as their regular white ball skipper Kane Williamson and Test captain Tim Southee are out with injuries.
India has issues of their own with all-rounder Hardik Pandya being ruled out of the match. Pandya would have provided the perfect balance as both the sixth bowling option and the fourth seamer in helpful conditions like the one we will see in Dharamsala. But it is almost as if there is a power above that conspires to come up with more hoops for India to jump through before a New Zealand clash in an ICC men’s tournament!
India vs New Zealand
If you look at India’s cricketing history with New Zealand, there is always very little outrage over a debacle against that country. We just take it in our stride and assume that it is par for the course for India to lose in New Zealand.
Everyone seems to forget that independent India’s first-ever away Test series triumph came in 1967-68 in New Zealand under Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi. Then India drew a Test series in New Zealand in 1976-77 under Bishan Bedi. So, India started off well in New Zealand, but somewhere along the way, dropped the ball.
Between 1981 and 1990, India did not tour New Zealand at all. This would have been the ideal time to tour New Zealand as both sides were then matched well, at least in limited-overs contests because both had a surfeit of all-rounders.
The problem arose in the nervous 1990s when India lost almost everywhere, so it hardly raised an eyebrow when they lost in New Zealand too. This when at the same time Pakistan through their champion bowling attack led by Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis blew away New Zealand sides at will.
The only time since 1976 when India won a series in New Zealand was in 2008-09 under Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The last two times India has toured New Zealand for a Test series (2013-14 and 2019-20), they have been roundly beaten. This has not caused as much outrage as it should have because these series have happened in March (if you know you know).
Overall, India’s Test record in New Zealand: Played 25, Won 5, Lost 10, Drew 10
Even in terms of ODI cricket, India’s record is not that flashy in New Zealand.
India has won just two ODI series in New Zealand in the 50 years of the existence of the format. The first time they did win an ODI series was also during the 2008-09 tour under Dhoni. The next time they won was under Virat Kohli in 2018-19. That apart, India’s record even in ODI cricket in New Zealand is forgettable. The only saving grace is under Mohammed Azharuddin in the 1990s, India walked away with two drawn ODI series!
India’s T20I record in New Zealand is much better, having won the last two series quite comfortably.
New Zealand's record in India
New Zealand’s record in India in all three formats is in a shambles too. They have never won a single series in any format in India. At times they do not even turn up in contests in India, defeated in their minds, thanks to the conditions that they come up against. They have been touring India since 1955, even though the first tour to New Zealand came only in 1967-68.
But somehow this New Zealand mindset changes when it comes to a one-off contest in an ICC men’s tournament.
There is sometimes more outrage in India for a loss in Australia, England, and South Africa than for a debacle in New Zealand. This needs to change now! India as a proud cricketing nation with its massive depth of resources, talent and player pool must be worried about its overall record against New Zealand.
Hopefully, Sunday will provide a start for a change in the record between the two sides - at least in senior ICC men’s tournaments. If you are looking for some kind of hope, then here is something to live by: India lost to New Zealand in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 but still ended up as champion!
So, there is hope, you only need to believe.
Also, next time India tours New Zealand and does not do well, ask questions, do not simply shrug your shoulders. That is what leads to complacency and the rise of a bogey team.
As the great German philosopher George Hegel famously said: “We learn from history that we do not learn from history.”
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