Apart from their victory against India in the 2021 World Test Championship final, New Zealand is a side that consistently performs well in ICC competitions but never wins them. Regarding the T20 World Cup, they were able to go to the semifinals three times in a row and compete against Australia in the 2021 final, but they were unable to win. Although the squad still has a lot of work ahead of them, they are once again among the top candidates to take home the title in 2024. Many of the players are in poor form heading into the T20 World Cup, while others haven’t played much recently.
While captain Kane Williamson was a member of the Gujarat Titans team, he only appeared in two IPL 2024 games and scored 27 runs. Rachin Ravindra had a strong start to the Chennai Super Kings season, but he finally lost steam and was left off the starting lineup. He tried again in the end, but he was unable to leave an impression. Daryl Mitchell, who was rather unremarkable during the season, is comparable. Lockie Ferguson’s form is a little alarming among bowlers.
Following a lengthy hiatus, Devon Conway will return to professional cricket. He suffered a fracture to his left hand joint, which kept him out of the IPL 2024 for the whole season, but he is now fully fit. Although Finn Allen hasn’t played much cricket lately, he is probably going to open beside him. In summary, New Zealand faces several issues, but they are not a problem that they will give much thought to.
Their performance is cohesive and they don’t give a damn about the players’ availability. Despite missing key crucial games during the ODI World Cup 2023, captain Williamson’s absence had little effect on the team as they went on to qualify for the semi-finals. Despite having many prominent cricket players absent from their recent five-match T20I series against Pakistan because of IPL commitments, they managed to end on equal footing.
When it comes to rising to the occasion, New Zealanders are simply experts at it. The top two teams in each group will advance to the playoffs, and they will play Uganda, West Indies, Afghanistan, and New Papua Guinea in the league stage. They are capable of defeating the West Indies on their home ground and holding their own against Afghan spinners, even though it won’t be simple. New Zealand would be a very tough team to defeat if the games ended in low scores. Can they endure, though? Although it appears difficult, the following points demonstrate that it is not impossible.
1. Detailed orientation: advantages
The Kiwis are well-versed in the game, having played together for a considerable amount of time and, most importantly, knowing exactly what their duties are. Because the surface of the T20 World Cup will vary after a certain point, players with a plethora of experience like Williamson, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Mitchell Santner, Daryl Mitchell, and a few others will be very useful.
Conversely, there are plenty of match-winners in the pace department. Trent Boult, who took 13 wickets at an economy rate of 8.06 in 15 matches for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2024, has performed admirably. His ability to pick wickets with the new ball could cause trouble for many teams. In the meantime, Southee consistently performs well in stressful circumstances despite not having played much cricket recently. With 22 matches under his belt and 29 wickets, the star bowler is the most prolific wicket-taker for New Zealand in T20 World Cup history.
Mitchell Santner will be the tournament’s most important player in the spin department. Prior to the competition, he was in good form and had the potential to be a game-changer for New Zealand. The 32-year-old will team up with Ish Sodhi, and together they can cause mayhem. They have great middle-over control and can take advantage of turning tracks.
Also seeming organised is the power-hitting division. Although he hasn’t participated in any IPL 2024 games, Glenn Phillips is a very dangerous player. Even if Sunrisers Hyderabad didn’t try him in the middle, he will be hungry for runs.
Weaknesses are the Achilles’ heel
A lot depends on the form of some players. Williamson participated in just two matches in the IPL 2024 and, as was previously mentioned, didn’t appear to be in excellent form. Daryl Mitchell, an all-rounder who the Chennai Super Kings paid INR 14 crore for, was unable to perform well in crucial situations despite having 318 runs in 13 matches, which is respectable on paper. With an economy rating of 11.66, he has bowled in a few games.
Players who are able to flex their muscles when necessary are scarce, with the exception of Phillips, who has also not played enough cricket in the past two months. Finn Allen lacks consistency, while James Neesam, Mark Chapman, and Michael Bracewell are all talented players but not particularly strong ball strikers. In order for New Zealand to win the tournament, Mitchell must step up, close the deficit, and offer the necessary balance.
Opportunities is the defining moment
New Zealand just needs a few victories in the beginning. They would have the courage to persevere because of that. They can quickly adjust to the environment, which is a benefit, but it would still be difficult because the players aren’t used to playing in those kinds of situations.
As opposed to other elite teams like those of India, Australia, South Africa, England, or Pakistan, New Zealand won’t be under as much pressure in the meantime. They always come out on the short end of the stick, and it suits them nicely.
Threats Associated with the Perfect Storm
Over the years, New Zealand’s incapacity to perform when things count has been its largest issue. Even though they make sure to advance to the knockout stages, they fall short when it counts. It is one of the problems that the team must resolve before the competition. Since their campaign against Afghanistan begins on June 8, they need to be morally energised going into the competition.
India
