India vs New Zealand in ICC events: Throwback points at a troubled picture for Kohli & Co.

India have lost every match against New Zealand at ICC events since the 2003 World Cup.

India and New Zealand will face each other in the final of the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) from June 18. The second-ranked team India takes on the No.1 Test side New Zealand in the culmination of the two-year-long inaugural Test championship. However, this is not the first ICC event where the two teams have locked horns against each other. In the last five meetings between both teams in ICC tournaments, it is New Zealand who hold the edge with four wins out of five. India’s only victory was way back in the 2003 World Cup under Sourav Ganguly. Since then India have lost every match to the Black Caps at ICC events. Here’s a rewind of those contests: 1999 ICC World Cup, Super 6, Nottingham: Ajay Jadeja’s 76 along with useful contribution by skipper Mohammad Azharuddin (30) and Robin Singh (27) took India to 251/ in 50 overs. In reply, New Zealand’s openers began at nearly five an over and chased down the total with 10 balls to spare with Matt Horne scoring 74 and Roger Twose remaining unbeaten on 60. India’s pace trio of Javagal Srinath, Debasis Mohanty, and Venkatesh Prasad was economical but picked only three wickets among themselves. 2000 ICC Knockout Trophy, Nairobi: Chris Cairns bettered Sourav Ganguly to steer New Zealand to victory over India in ICC KnockOut final. Cairns played through the pain of a dodgy right knee – he was only passed fit to play on Saturday – to produce a match-winning 102 not out. Batting first, India put up a fighting total of 264/6 led by Sourav Ganguly’s 117 and Sachin Tendulkar’s 69. But the Indian bowlers except for Venkatesh Prasad (3/27) were erratic and failed to defend the score. 2003 ICC World Cup, Super 6, Centurion: Zaheer Khan’s superb spell of 4/42 blew away the Kiwis as they were bowled out of just 146. New Zealand top-order batting collapsed and a score of 146 was never going to be enough to trouble the Indian batting line-up. However, Shane Bond had India reeling at 21/3 but Rahul Dravid and Mohammad Kaif played sensible, solid cricket to take their side home. 2007 World T20 league, Johannesburg: A masterclass by Daniel Vettori along with a clinical display by the Kiwi batsmen set up a fine victory for New Zealand by 10 runs in this match. Batting first, New Zealand scored 190 with Brendon McCullum smashing 45 off 31 balls and Craig McMillan hitting a brisk 44 off 23 balls. In response, India was off to a rollicking start with 76 in 5 overs but with the dismissal of Virender Sehwag, the balance of the game shifted towards New Zealand. India was restricted at 180/9 in 20 overs as Vettori picked 4/20.