India batting great Sunil Gavaskar recalled Team India’s 5-0 triumph against New Zealand in the T20I series last year and backed the Virat Kohli-led side to win against the Kiwis in their upcoming T20 World Cup 2021 match.
After a 10-wicket thrashing against Pakistan in their first match of T20 World Cup 2021, Team India is all set to lock horns against New Zealand in a must-win encounter. The Virat Kohli-led side would be eager to win the match against New Zealand as defeat would almost shatter their hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals.
Read Also: COC Predicted Team India playing XI for New Zealand match
With New Zealand also coming off the loss against Pakistan, there's no brainer that they would display their A game and will be leaving no stone unturned to shatter the hopes of Indian fans.
However, former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar feels that losing one game doesn’t make India a bad team and said that the Virat Kohli-led side has the capabilities to win the next few games and qualify for the semifinals.
"This is a great Indian team. Losing one game, it doesn't make them a bad team. They have the capabilities to win the next few games and qualify for the semifinals, let alone win the title. Just because they didn't perform, doesn't mean that this team isn't good," Sunil Gavaskar told Sports Tak.
Gavaskar admitted that though it’s never an easy match against the Kiwis, he recalled India’s 5-0 whitewash in the T20I series in New Zealand in 2020 and said that the ‘Men in Blue’ would consider that to increase their confidence.
"New Zealand has always been a balanced team. They have this fighting quality and don't give up and that is why when you play against them, you have got to look out. It is never an easy match against them.
“Don't forget, India had blanked New Zealand 5-0 in 2020 even though two matches went into Super Overs. Still, India had won those matches so they would like to take that into consideration to increase their confidence,” he said.
The former Indian skipper said that Team India has developed a pattern for the last couple of years as after losing the first match they rejuvenate themselves at the top.
Read Also: Sarandeep Singh criticizes selection committee for selecting 'unfit' Hardik Pandya
Gavaskar cited the examples of India’s remarkable comebacks in the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the home and away Test series against England and backed the Virat Kohli-led side to lift the T20 World Cup 2021 trophy as well on 14th November.
"India are a champion team and I would like to tell them to show the world what qualities India have. We have seen this pattern in the last couple of years that everytime India are at the bottom, how they rejuvenate themselves to emerge back to the top.
We saw that in Australia and then against England at both home and away. The players that played those series, most of them are in this squad. I hope that this India team goes on to win the title. Not only tomorrow's match, but on November 14, they will lift the trophy... this is my belief,” he concluded
Notably, Team India hasn’t won against New Zealand in an ICC event since 2003 and the Virat Kohli-led would be hoping to break their streak and register their first win over them in 18 years.
(Sports Tak inputs)
