Rohit Sharma and Co face the long night for World Cup’s Game of Thrones contest

Author George RR Martin bodes the particular setting as the arrival of a ‘force of nature’ in his extensive Game of Thrones literature; a force that wipes out everything in its way and against which all of the protagonists must band together to prevail: The White Walkers.

It’s taken four matches in the ongoing competition, but the threat worthy of three horn-blasts has finally arrived for Rohit Sharma and Co. A top- of-the-table clash against the team India hasn’t bested at major ICC tournaments in 20 years. Five games, five defeats across three formats, including the One-Day World Cup match played across two days in Manchester four years ago.

It’s New Zealand all over again.

Few would have forgotten Martin Guptill hitting the stumps from short fine-leg in that game, the direct hit that eventually brought the curtain down on MS Dhoni’s international career and India’s 2019 World Cup campaign. One that the then skipper Virat Kohli had claimed was picture perfect barring 30 minutes of play that saw the Indian top order succumb to New Zealand’s new-ball bowlers with nippy conditions in play at Old Trafford.

Four years on, as the Men in Blue face the familiar foe, the conditions in play are the closest replica from that semifinal that Indian venues can offer. In Dharamsala this World Cup, the average swing percentage (1.4) in the opening 10 overs has been higher than anywhere else. One of the ground officials makes a sly remark, “It’s a venue Indian batters are generally alarmed of playing at.”

Boult vs top order

On Friday, Trent Boult made it known, “I couldn’t think of a better place to take on the host nation.” Even though the left-arm pacer has been light on wickets this tournament, his match-up against India’s top order would be a pleasant thought to come into the game with. Bursting in from over the wicket, it was his in-nipper that had trapped Kohli in front of the stumps during those ‘30 minutes’ four years ago. The only Indian batsman who’s scored more than Kohli at this World Cup has also been susceptible to that sort of delivery.

For Rohit Sharma though, Matt Henry holds the key to expose another chink in his armour: The persistent fourth-stump line. It was Henry nagging the ball in that corridor that had got Rohit to nick one behind in their last World Cup meeting.

While Henry and Boult – alongside speedster Lockie Ferguson, who also starred in New Zealand’s last win – arrive in Dharamsala in wicket-taking form, it’s Mitchell Santner who leads the bowling charts. With 11 scalps in four outings, the left-arm orthodox has been very effective in the middle overs.
On the eve of the game, skipper Tom Latham would highlight one of Santner’s traits that’s likely to come in handy in Dharamsala. “I think we’ve seen how adaptable he is in these conditions. He can obviously turn the ball and he’s obviously got a lot of bounce as well.”

Santner threat

Even though spinners haven’t been able to get much turn out of the two Dharamsala strips so far, others from the Santner breed of bowling have shown alternative ways to pick wickets. In the first game, Shakib Al Hasan used the extra bounce to trap the Afghan batsmen on the sweep shot. The other night, Roelof van der Merwe cramped the Proteas right-handers for room by bringing in the wider arm angle from round the wicket. In Santner, New Zealand have someone who can do both and keep attacking an Indian batting line-up that will miss the services of Hardik Pandya.

The Kiwis already have a balanced bowling attack and the availability of veteran Tim Southee for selection on Sunday, as confirmed by skipper Tom Latham, bolsters it further.

Despite the bowling options up his sleeve, Latham believes what makes the upcoming contest enticing is that the match-ups in the other innings are just as good. The absence of Kane Williamson in three of the four games has been barely noticeable with Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra firing runs at the top and Will Young, Glenn Phillips and Latham also coming into fray.

The names may not have been under the spotlight ahead of the World Cup, but that’s precisely what the Kiwis have enjoyed coming into ICC tournaments.

“No spotlight on the team and individuals… always under the radar and no following circus of press to jump on every false comment or mistake in the field,” Grant Elliot had told this newspaper ahead of this World Cup.

Four games and as many wins later, the circus he mentions is still nowhere to be seen with none of the Kiwi scribes there to ask any questions to their captain a day before the top-of-the- table clash. It’s the All Blacks that have everyone’s attention including Latham’s, who admits to having stayed up late last night to watch them make it to the Rugby World Cup final in France.

Elliot hopes the Black Caps can change that this year. “Most Kiwis grow up wanting to be an All Black. Maybe 2023 can change that for the 13-year-old watching them lift the trophy.” So far, they have looked like a force to be reckoned with at this World Cup. Even the blue caravan must take note, the White Walkers are here.