Team India enters the year 2023 with hopes of putting the disappointments of the 2022 Asia Cup and ICC T20 World Cup behind and offering the fans what the pair of skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid had shown promise of.
With this win, India is at the top spot in the points table with four points in two wins in two matches. The Netherlands is at the bottom and has yet to score a point after two losses.
Opener Kusal Mendis smashed an unbeaten 68, his second consecutive fifty on the trot, as Sri Lanka secured a clinical nine-wicket win over Ireland in their Super 12 match of the Men's T20 World Cup at the Bellerive Oval on Sunday.
The much-awaited clash between India and Pakistan will take place at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) with over a lakh fans' presence and if the recent encounters are any indicators, the match may end up going to the wire.
First Round teams will commence their preparations in Melbourne, with matches split between the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Junction Oval from 10-13 October.
Namibia has had successful performances at the T20 World Cup despite being underdogs, and the Black Caps would not want to take any chances with the side by underestimating their potential, especially when the Kane Williamson-led side is in the semifinals.
India reshuffled its batting order at the top after an eight-wicket loss to New Zealand on Sunday, with Ishan Kishan opening with KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma sliding to number three. India's strategy backfired, as they were only able to score 110/7 in 20 overs, which New Zealand easily chased down in 14.3 overs.
Buttler's complete dominance of the Australian bowling, in which he smashed five towering sixes and an equal number of boundaries at a mind-boggling strike rate of 222, showed that he had done his homework on the Australian bowlers, as England crushed their arch-rivals by eight wickets, chasing down the total in 11.4 overs.
Rashid knows his spinners can wreak havoc after winning their first game by 130 runs against Scotland, but he also knows that his team's next opponent, Pakistan, is in imperious form and that conquering the neighbours will need a total team effort.
Sana Mir feels the Babar Azam-led side will be extra motivated when it takes on New Zealand in the ICC T20 World Cup 'Super 12' game on Tuesday.
