India eyeing history as New Zealand hunt maiden World Cup in Ahmedabad decider

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/cricket/india-fcOzl2uI/new-zealand-G6PWlrQB/?mid=rkrfMtJF"]The 20-team tournament will end ‌in an Ahmedabad amphitheatre[/a] where more than 100,000 fans will expect a gladiatorial slugfest, and most will hope for a ‌home triumph.[/p][p]The stands will transform into a sea of blue for Suryakumar Yadav's men, but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/india/fcOzl2uI/"]India[/a] do not have particularly sweet memories of their rivals or the venue in recent ‌global finals.[/p][p]Personnel have since changed, but in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-zealand/G6PWlrQB/"]New Zealand[/a], India face opponents who got ‌the better of them in the World Test Championship final in 2021 in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/UJC5mtAU/"]England[/a].[/p][p]Two years later, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/australia/OxG0JfXg/"]Australia[/a] stunned the cavernous Narendra Modi Stadium when they humbled India, previously unbeaten in the tournament, in the 50-over World ‌Cup final.[/p][p]Still, it is a testament to India's consistency that ⁠reaching finals has become almost habitual.[/p][p][b]This home campaign ‌has not been flawless, but they are where it matters - one win from becoming the first ​host nation to lift a T20 World Cup.[/b][/p][p]As the world's top-ranked T20 side, they have the means to do it.[/p][image alt="India's Sanju Samson in action" id="4e48aa63-08c2-4b3b-a555-ad946e493896" credit-line="Reuters / Francis Mascarenhas" guid="bd8af402-c514-457a-8362-e75771690f88" original-width="2493" original-height="1712" /][p]Sanju Samson has reinvigorated the top order with ​back-to-back match-winning knocks to fire the hosts into the final.[/p][p]His elevation has added a valuable left-right variety at the top, and India have shown tactical flexibility to rejig their batting ⁠order whenever needed.[/p][p]With the ball, Jasprit ​Bumrah has led superbly, earning plaudits for strangling batters in the game's most unforgiving format for bowlers.[/p][p]Seam-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been on point too, though the leakage of no-balls and wides from Arshdeep Singh and Shivam Dube - especially at the death - remains a concern.[/p][p]Frontline ‌spinner Varun Chakravarthy has not been at his best, but Axar Patel's steady returns as a spin-bowling all-rounder have been a major plus.[/p][p][b]"There will be nerves, but then the boys and the whole support staff will be excited as well,"[/b] Suryakumar said after beating England.[/p][h2]'We get ⁠up for the fight'[/h2][p]New Zealand's path to the final was hardly serene either, and they only reached the last four after Pakistan failed to win big against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sri-lanka/zahH5UHg/"]Sri Lanka[/a].[/p][p]Then came a thunderclap - a nine-wicket demolition of previously unbeaten [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-africa/tUhlKzIm/"]South Africa[/a] in the first semi-final that left fans and pundits rubbing their eyes in disbelief.[/p][p]Finn Allen, who smashed a record 33-ball hundred in that match, and Tim Seifert form ‌arguably the most explosive opening pair in T20 cricket.[/p][image alt="New Zealand's Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra after the win over South Africa" id="49b6530f-10e8-4e82-94e4-72c6fc7e8634" credit-line="Reuters / Sahiba Chawdhary" guid="54675f87-566a-48c4-ba85-02c79339f6b4" original-width="3333" original-height="2180" /][p]Rachin Ravindra's ability to tailor his batting ​to any situation and Glenn Phillips' natural aggression make it a formidable batting lineup.[/p][p]Matt ‌Henry leads a sharp pace attack, and New Zealand also have plenty of variety in their spin department, which has been bolstered by the late introduction of off-spinner Cole McConchie.[/p][p]While there is no lack of skill and talent in their squad, New Zealand pride themselves on resilience.[/p][p][b]"It just shows that us as a team, we get ⁠up for the fight," [/b]Allen said.[/p][p][b]"Those important fixtures, ⁠we really get up for them ‌as a team. We're prepared to fight till the end."[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/cricket/india-fcOzl2uI/new-zealand-G6PWlrQB/?mid=rkrfMtJF"]Follow the T20 World Cup final with Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]