Ravi jadeja

ODI World Cup:  Ahead of a riveting top of the table clash between India and New Zealand at the HPCA Stadium on Sunday, former New Zealand batter Ross Taylor believes the hosts’ are favourites to win the trophy irrespective of the outcome of their game against the Blackcaps.

“Getting off to a good start in the competition has been particularly crucial because New Zealand have a tough streak of games coming up, beginning with India on Sunday. India in their home conditions are a different beast and they have started unsurprisingly strongly – I see them as favourites to win the competition at this stage, no matter what happens in Dharamshala tomorrow,” wrote Taylor in his column for the ICC on Saturday.

He was also amused by the fact that New Zealand last lost to India in an ODI World Cup game back in 2003 and was unable to zero on a reason behind this clean slate. “I’m not sure quite what explains why New Zealand keep beating India at these tournaments but if you talk to a lot of Indian supporters, New Zealand are their second favourite team – maybe that has something to do with it, who knows?”