India and New Zealand will be involved in a crucial encounter of the 20-20 World Cup on Sunday, October 31. Both teams lost their first game to Pakistan and given that they will be playing Scotland, Afghanistan and Namibia in their final three games, many are seeing the India-New Zealand game as a virtual knockout and the team that wins will qualify for the semifinals as the second team alongside Pakistan.
Ahead of this crucial game, there were concerns about the fitness of Martin Guptill who was hit by a fierce toe crusher by Haris Rauf in the match against Pakistan. The opener was seen in searing pain and there were doubts about his participation against India. However, New Zealand pacer Trent Boult has confirmed that Guptill is fit and will be available for selection against India. Martin Guptill didn’t score much against Pakistan and only managed 17 runs. His form of late has not been very promising as well. But he is still one of the finest T20 batters and possesses the skills to single-handedly win the game for his team.
Meanwhile, Boult also said that he is looking to replicate what Shaheen Afridi did against India. The Pakistan pacer troubled the Indian batters with his pace and inswing and scalped three big wickets, including Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli. Boult, who is a similar kind of a bowler to Afridi said, “The way Shaheen bowled was amazing, hopefully, it swings for me as well and I can do what Shaheen did in the other night against India,” Boult said.
Meanwhile, India, having lost their first game will come back hard for sure.