All-time combined India-New Zealand ODI XI
In ODIs, India and New Zealand played against each other for the first time in 1975 and since then the two countries competed against each other on more than 90 occasions. Both India and New Zealand boast of dominant record at home but struggled on the other team’s home venues.
Head to head, India holds a slight edge over the Kiwis with 46 wins and 41 losses so far. The Indian team looked stronger on paper on many occasions mainly due to its formidable batting line-up but the Black Caps always gave them a run for their money.
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The rivalry between the teams has not been much spoken about but is very pretty close and entertaining as the overall numbers suggest.
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Both the countries produced a plethora of amazing players that cast a spell over the spectators and achieved immortal fame in the history of cricket. Ahead of New Zealand’s tour of India which is going to commence shortly, let us take a look at the greats of both sides who could have formed ‘India-New Zealand all-time combined XI.’
This side possesses enough firepower to send shivers down the spine of any other team.
#1 Sachin Tendulkar
Without an iota of doubt, Sachin Tendulkar remains the most worshipped cricketer in the world even after his retirement and is forever the hot favorite for the title of ‘the greatest of the greats.’ The long list of his gigantic achievements needs no special mention.
Since his debut in the international arena in 1989, Tendulkar captured the imagination of the cricket lovers all over the globe and scaled peak after peak. He broke many batting records, which were hitherto thought to be unsurpassable and set a slew of new benchmarks.
None has been left untouched by the aura of Tendulkar. He is a demigod to a billion Indians and cricket lovers abroad, was a perennial scourge to even legendary bowlers like Shane Warne and a massive source of inspiration to many budding cricketers. His achievements are so humongous that a player can be termed a great even if he achieves only half of what Sachin did.
For all his unparalleled achievements, Tendulkar can walk into any side in any format. He thus becomes an automatic choice for the first opening slot and the easiest pick in the ‘Ind-NZ all-time combined ODI XI.’ Tendulkar possesses ‘the golden arm’ that can break nagging partnerships and thus can turn the matches with the ball too.