A 'friendly' India-Kiwi rivalry that promises a fierce battle

The two teams are yet to taste defeat in the tournament and the top-of-the-table clash could be Rohit and Co's sternest test yet

- VIVEK KRISHNAN

No cringe television ads calling for revenge. No needless baiting of the opposition's fans. No jingoistic social media vitriol spewed in the garb of patriotism. Contests between India and New Zealand don't whip up extreme emotions and reactions. It's usually all serene and peaceful, much like the quaint HPCA Stadium enveloped by the snow-capped Dhauladhar range in the mild October sun.

If there's ever a time for India to be fired up for a clash against New Zealand though, it is perhaps now. They are coming up against a team which, like them, has won its first four matches to sit atop the points table. They are coming up against a team that caused them the heartbreak of a semi-final exit at the 2019 World Cup. They are coming up against a team they haven't beaten in International Cricket Council (ICC) events since the 2003 World Cup.

It provides the perfect backdrop for what's hopefully an edge-of-the-seat thriller at easily the most picturesque venue in the country. A majority of those on the 12-hour bus journey from Delhi to Dharamsala on Friday night seemed to have made arrangements to head to the HPCA Stadium on Sunday.