Key takeaway from today's final: Always go ultra-aggressive against NZ

[Gollum]

Think we have finally perfected the art of beating NZ in big games. Key is to be very aggressive against them. Aus always does that against them, and Pak as well in 90s (Inzi's blitz in 92 SF, Akthar's spell in 99 SF). 

 

Today Kiwis were so rattled by 5th over, that they lost their discipline, even a metronome like Henry started bowling 4-5 wides in an over. mentally they were shot in our PP itself, rest of the game was just a formality. 

 

Similar thing happened in 2025 CT final where Rohit's blitz put them on the backfoot and rest of our players benefited. Had he not gone medieval on them in the PP, we were set to lose that as well. 

 

2023 WC SF, Iyer's onslaught which took us 50 above par, scoring 400 in a WC SF was what took it beyond their reach. Then when our bowlers resorted to defensive channels, NZ were coasting. Shami came and started searching for wickets, took a 7fer, and we won that game...when game was nicely poised, Shami gave an exhibition of attacking bowling. Sharp contrast to 2019 SF where Bhuvi wasted new ball in helpful conditions by bowling defensive lengths and keeping things economical, when we needed wickets. To think that we dropped Shami, Kuldeep and played Bhuvi, Chahal in that game, even selection was defensive in nature !!!!!! Then of course our timid start in the batting innings where we just allowed them to bowl in their areas, in fact for a good couple of hours before Jadeja took the fight to them and brought us back into the match. 

 

Whenever we have lost to NZ in the past (2000 CT F, 2016 Nagpur, 2019 Manchester), it is because we have been too conservative in our approach (often both batting and bowling), trying to play the unforced errors minimization game rather than going for winners. You can't beat Kiwis by aping their style (methodical, slowly strangulating opponents, doing basics right, minimizing errors), you have got to keep hammering them, shock and awe treatment. Hope this is our template going forward every time we face them in big games. I am sure we will play them in many KOs in coming years, there are just 5 good teams that make these deep runs, SENAI. 

Edited March 8 by Gollum

[vvvslaxman]

Australia of 2000s did the same against everyone.  2007 final, 2003 final, 1999 final. Keep going harder. 

[Lone Wolf]

Always said this is the only formula.  Abhishek charging at their Pacers messed their lines... They started bowling wider and wasted the new ball which was moving a bit

[vvvslaxman]

In Asia cup we did the same. That one extra batsman at 8 makes all the difference. Moment we went off that with 4 tailenders we suffered a 10 year trophy drought. 

[vvvslaxman]

If only Kela  sustained the momentum that Rohit created in 2023 final things would have been different 96 f***Ing balls no boundaries. 

[Gollum]

In the 2000 F in Nairobi, we scored 30-40 runs below par in that small ground. 200/1 at the end of 38 overs, next 12 overs we scored just 64. Dravid stalled momentum in that innings and even Ganguly slowed down. If only Sachin didn't get run out, we would have scored 300+. There also we were very pleased with our total, especially when we reduced them to 130/5. Thing with NZ is they are so methodical, professional, that they never mess up these middling totals. Take them out of their comfort zone and their low ceiling shows. 

[vvvslaxman]

1 minute ago, Gollum said:

In the 2000 F in Nairobi, we scored 30-40 runs below par in that small ground. 200/1 at the end of 38 overs, next 12 overs we scored just 64. Dravid stalled momentum in that innings and even Ganguly slowed down. If only Sachin didn't get run out, we would have scored 300+. There also we were very pleased with our total, especially when we reduced them to 130/5. Thing with NZ is they are so methodical, professional, that they never mess up these middling totals. Take them out of their comfort zone and their low ceiling shows. 

This Consolidation is not there anymore because of that 1 extra batsman. That plays a massive role

[nitinbwj]

Abhi toh yeh Bach gye. We were 92/0 after 6 and 205 after 15. Wickets gifted to Neesham and Pandoo wasting deliveries saved them. Dube would have smoked a 20 ball 50 here. India 285

[rollingstoned]

12 minutes ago, Gollum said:

Think we have finally perfected the art of beating NZ in big games. Key is to be very aggressive against them. Aus always does that against them, and Pak as well in 90s (Inzi's blitz in 92 SF, Akthar's spell in 99 SF). 

 

Today Kiwis were so rattled by 5th over, that they lost their discipline, even a metronome like Henry started bowling 4-5 wides in an over. mentally they were shot in our PP itself, rest of the game was just a formality. 

 

Similar thing happened in 2025 CT final where Rohit's blitz put them on the backfoot and rest of our players benefited. Had he not gone medieval on them in the PP, we were set to lose that as well. 

 

2023 WC SF, Iyer's onslaught which took us 50 above par, scoring 400 in a WC SF was what took it beyond their reach. Then when our bowlers resorted to defensive channels, NZ were coasting. Shami came and started searching for wickets, took a 7fer, and we won that game...when game was nicely poised, Shami gave an exhibition of attacking bowling. Sharp contrast to 2019 SF where Bhuvi wasted new ball in helpful conditions by bowling defensive lengths and keeping things economical, when we needed wickets. To think that we dropped Shami, Kuldeep and played Bhuvi, Chahal in that game, even selection was defensive in nature !!!!!! Then of course our timid start in the batting innings where we just allowed them to bowl in their areas, in fact for a good couple of hours before Jadeja took the fight to them and brought us back into the match. 

 

Whenever we have lost to NZ in the past (2000 CT F, 2016 Nagpur, 2019 Manchester), it is because we have been too conservative in our approach (often both batting and bowling), trying to play the unforced errors minimization game rather than going for winners. You can't beat Kiwis by aping their style (methodical, slowly strangulating opponents, doing basics right, minimizing errors), you have got to keep hammering them, shock and awe treatment. Hope this is our template going forward every time we face them in big games. I am sure we will play them in many KOs in coming years, there are just 5 good teams that make these deep runs, SENAI. 

On another forum kiwi fans are discussing the same thing dissecting all their final losses. They don't handle being put under pressure well when someone from the opposition takes the attack to them. 

[cowboysfan]

we are always aggressive for the last 2 years,now other teams are trying to copy us with long batting lineups with hitters.

[rollingstoned]

2 minutes ago, Gollum said:

In the 2000 F in Nairobi, we scored 30-40 runs below par in that small ground. 200/1 at the end of 38 overs, next 12 overs we scored just 64. Dravid stalled momentum in that innings and even Ganguly slowed down. If only Sachin didn't get run out, we would have scored 300+. There also we were very pleased with our total, especially when we reduced them to 130/5. Thing with NZ is they are so methodical, professional, that they never mess up these middling totals. Take them out of their comfort zone and their low ceiling shows. 

They beat both us and pooks in the previous round in that tournament in similar fashion. Pooks also had no business losing that semi. 

I'm not sure how we made so less after the flier we got in that game. Chris harris, Nathan astle and Gavin larsen were weird bowlers to face. Especially the first one. 

[cowboysfan]

1 minute ago, nitinbwj said:

Abhi toh yeh Bach gye. We were 92/0 after 6 and 205 after 15. Wickets gifted to Neesham and Pandoo wasting deliveries saved them. Dube would have smoked a 20 ball 50 here. India 285

I have noticed too many guys getting out to full tosses in this WC,that should not happen-you dont have to hit a full toss in the air to get a boundary.

[Gollum]

2 minutes ago, rollingstoned said:

On another forum kiwi fans are discussing the same thing dissecting all their final losses. They don't handle being put under pressure well when someone from the opposition takes the attack to them. 

which forum bro? 

[rollingstoned]

Just now, Gollum said:

which forum bro? 

Cricketweb. 

[Forward Defence]

Today during the powerplay I really felt the Kiwis seamers lost their marbles. Pressure gets to everyone!

[Gollum]

4 minutes ago, Forward Defence said:

Today during the powerplay I really felt the Kiwis seamers lost their marbles. Pressure gets to everyone!

Last time I saw them this rattled was against Iyer and Rahul in 23 SF. 

 

Was fun to watch them wave the white flag after 5 overs today. They will remember Abhi and Sanju's PP onslaught for many many years. 

Edited March 8 by Gollum

[Suhaan]

19 minutes ago, nitinbwj said:

Abhi toh yeh Bach gye. We were 92/0 after 6 and 205 after 15. Wickets gifted to Neesham and Pandoo wasting deliveries saved them. Dube would have smoked a 20 ball 50 here. India 285

It started gripping,meant we lost wickets in cluster

It happens,Mumbai surface and NZ were staring at 300+ target

[vvvslaxman]

18 minutes ago, cowboysfan said:

we are always aggressive for the last 2 years,now other teams are trying to copy us with long batting lineups with hitters.

 

India has match up  worked out pretty well. Just look at semi final. One Dawson over they took him out. They probably wantedto bring him back. But Dube was still there. Much like in IPL  teams avoided spin against Dube. His sheer presence created a lot of things.

[AKane]

Key takeaway - Unless you have the crummy doctored pitch of 2023, always bat first when you win the toss. Never, NEVER put the opposition in to bat - esp if you have a bowler like Srinath (and of course the green Zaheer Khan) in your bowling side.

[nitinbwj]

6 minutes ago, vvvslaxman said:

 

India has match up  worked out pretty well. Just look at semi final. One Dawson over they took him out. They probably wantedto bring him back. But Dube was still there. Much like in IPL  teams avoided spin against Dube. His sheer presence created a lot of things.

Dube is a beast and teams have started fearing his spin destruction. He smacked 65 off 23 againt NZ in Jan when Ind was down and out at 82-5. Santner didnt come on to bowl until he was out.