Auckland, March 13 (IANS) India, who play their sixth and final Pool B match against Zimbabwe, look all set to maintain their unbeaten record at the 2015 cricket World Cup.
Whatever the situation, India have come out with the goods, whether with the bat or ball, to make sure they are one of the favourites going in to the knockouts.
Having already qualified for the quarters following their win over the West Indies, the defending champions could have tested their bench strength against Associate member Ireland at Hamilton on Tuesday.
Though skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni decided to stick with the winning combination, they just might change the playing 11 to give some match practice to others ahead of the knockouts.
India are likely to play Bangladesh at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in the last eight on March 19 unless Scotland manage a huge win over Australia at Hobart on Saturday.
On the other hand, Zimbabwe will look to end their campaign on a high in the inconsequential tie. Without a chance of qualifying for the knockouts, Zimbabwe will try to give their skipper a winning farewell as Brendan Taylor has decided to end his international career and concentrate on English county cricket.
Though Zimbabwe have lost four of their five matches yet, they have been competitive in each of them, giving a run for their money to all big teams, having chased in all their matches.
However, despite the talent and potential, they are likely to find India too hot to handle, who are on a nine-match winning streak in World Cups.
In another bad news for Zimbabwe, captain Elton Chigumbura, who also did not play against Ireland, has been ruled out again with a leg muscle injury he suffered against Pakistan.
Eden Park's small straight boundaries may help the team batting first put up a big total but the wicket and conditions at the start should help seamers, who are likely to get some swing.
In the match between the co-hosts, 19 wickets fell as New Zealand trumped Australia by one wicket at the end. Later, Pakistan comprehensively defended 222 against South Africa.
So it might be a small ground but definitely assists the fast bowlers, who will likely get more bounce. But how the pitch will assist the spinners, who have played a significant role for India in the tournament, remains to be seen.
In all probability, this could well be India's last match in New Zealand in the World Cup because in the knockouts, they will play their quarters, semis and final, provided they win, in Australia because of the draw they have been placed in.
HTET 2022: Applications started for the Haryana TET exam, know how to apply
HTET 2022: The Board of School Education, Haryana has started the application process for the Sta
China COVID Outbreak: Omicron's BA.5.2 and BF.7 sub-variants wreaking havoc in China: WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) informed on Wednesday that according to data released by Chin
Team India will play the last T20 series against South Africa before the start of the T20 World C
Poisonous liquor has once again wreaked havoc in Bihar which has banned liquor. In the Chhapra di
Partygate Scandal: British PM Boris Johnson won the no-confidence motion, got the support of 211 MPs
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, surrounded by the Partygate scandal, has won the trust vote
Ukraine is in dire straits these days. He is a victim of Russia's anger. Many cities have been de
Corona cases (COVID19 in India) are once again increasing in the country. In the last 24 hours, 2
Strict action has been taken in the case of pepper spray being used against police personnel duri
Like the coronavirus, now there is a change in the risks associated with it. Not only in India bu
The most distant galaxy: NASA's James Webb telescope discovered a 10 billion-year-old galaxy
NASA's most powerful James Webb Space Telescope has made an amazing discovery. Scientists have f
