It would be an understatement to say cricket is popular in India. Since its introduction to the country, the sport has won the hearts and minds of the vast majority of Indian people. It is the uncontested favorite sport in the country, and the Indian team is one of the, if not the best team in the world right now.
India holds the number one spot in two out of the three formats of international cricket. They are ranked number one in Twenty20 International and One Day International cricket. And they hold the number two spot in Test cricket.
Not only is the sport watched and played by Indians from a very early age, it is also the most popular betting sport in the country. In India, sportsbet is quite a popular venue for online sports betting. And considering the practice is perfectly legal in the country, Indian fans of cricket have no trouble putting down a bet on the latest cricket matches. Speaking of which, let us take a look at how the Indian team has done in the latest international games.
T20I Against New Zealand
The latest match in which India has competed is the Twenty20 International game against the New Zealand team. While the Men in Blue hold the number one spot, the Kiwis are no slouches in the cricket department. They hold the fifth rank in T20I and Test cricket, and the 3rd rank in ODI. Still, it will perhaps not surprise many to find out that the Indian team is favored to win the competition.
The first and second match of the T20I against New Zealand has already been played, with the latest scheduled on February 1. So, for anyone excited, let us take a look at the lead up to the third and final match of the India vs. New Zealand Twenty20 International match of 2023.
First Round
The 1st round was played on 27 January, last Friday, during the New Zealand tour of India. Though the Indians had the home field advantage, the Kiwis were hungry for the win. After all, dethroning the Men in Blue would be a great boost for morale.
It is likely this hunger for victory that led to the New Zealand team winning the first round. With a final score of 176/6 for New Zealand and 155/9 for India, the Black Caps won by 21 runs. Stars of the show were certainly Daryl Mitchell and Mitchell Santner, who gave New Zealand a head start.
Second Round
The 2nd round happened two days after the first, on January 29 (Sunday). With a boost in morale, many believed that the Kiwis might stand a chance against the Men in Blue. However, those beliefs were shattered by the game’s end, which resulted in a win by 6 wickets in favor of the Indian team. The final score was 101/4 India and 99/8 New Zealand.
Suryakamar Yadav was the standout player in this match, whose swatting abilities helped even the score. As we said, the last match of the game will be held on 1 February, and will ultimately decide the true winner between the two teams.
