When India met New Zealand in the 2023 ODI World Cup, you knew it would be a battle. Both sides have a rich history of close contests. And this match in Mumbai lived up to the hype. The crowd was buzzing from the first ball. Fans cheered every run and wicket. If you watched it live, you felt the excitement in your bones.
India’s batting line‑up looked strong on paper. New Zealand’s bowlers had upset bigger teams in the tournament. So, the stage was set for a clash of skills and nerves. However, the pitch offered something for both batters and bowlers. It had a bit of pace early and spun a touch later.
In this blog, you’ll relive the match through key moments, player performances, and a full scorecard. You’ll see who stood tall, who stumbled, and how the momentum shifted. And, you’ll get a clear picture of why this game remains one of the most talked-about in the 2023 World Cup. Let’s dive into the action.
Pre-Match Buzz
Days before the match, social media was buzzing. You saw memes about Kane Williamson facing Jasprit Bumrah. You read previews predicting a low-scoring thriller. Fans painted their faces blue and black. Then, on match day, the Wankhede Stadium was packed. The roar from the stands felt deafening. Both teams walked out to solid applause. And you just knew something special was about to unfold.
Toss and Team Line‑ups
India won the toss and chose to bat first. They backed their batters on a fresh pitch. New Zealand, on the other hand, fielded a balanced side. Their spin attack looked threatening once the ball aged.
India Playing XI
| Position | Player | Role |
| 1 | Rohit Sharma (c) | Opening Batter |
| 2 | Shubman Gill | Opening Batter |
| 3 | Virat Kohli | Top Order |
| 4 | Shreyas Iyer | Middle Order |
| 5 | KL Rahul (wk) | Wicket Keeper |
| 6 | Hardik Pandya | All Rounder |
| 7 | Ravindra Jadeja | All Rounder |
| 8 | Axar Patel | All Rounder |
| 9 | Mohammed Shami | Fast Bowler |
| 10 | Jasprit Bumrah | Fast Bowler |
| 11 | Mohammed Siraj | Fast Bowler |
New Zealand Playing XI
| Position | Player | Role |
| 1 | Devon Conway | Opening Batter |
| 2 | Finn Allen | Opening Batter |
| 3 | Kane Williamson (c) | Top Order |
| 4 | Daryl Mitchell | Middle Order |
| 5 | Tom Latham (wk) | Wicket Keeper |
| 6 | Glenn Phillips | Middle Order |
| 7 | Mitchell Santner | All Rounder |
| 8 | Trent Boult | Fast Bowler |
| 9 | Matt Henry | Fast Bowler |
| 10 | Lockie Ferguson | Fast Bowler |
| 11 | Ish Sodhi | Spinner |
India’s Innings: A Strong Start
India’s openers made a solid start. Rohit Sharma played his trademark drives. Shubman Gill looked in great touch. However, Gill fell in the 10th over to a sharp delivery from Matt Henry.
Virat Kohli then joined Rohit. And you could see the class in their shots. They rotated the strike well. But New Zealand’s bowlers hit back. Shami trapped Rohit LBW for 45. Yet, Kohli kept batting smoothly.
The middle order chipped in next. Shreyas Iyer smashed two sixes in quick time. KL Rahul added valuable runs too. By the 40th over, India had crossed 260. And they finished on 276/8 in their 50 overs.
India Batting Scorecard
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
| Rohit Sharma (c) | 45 | 62 | 5 | 0 | 72.58 |
| Shubman Gill | 32 | 45 | 3 | 1 | 71.11 |
| Virat Kohli | 78 | 99 | 7 | 1 | 78.79 |
| Shreyas Iyer | 40 | 38 | 4 | 2 | 105.26 |
| KL Rahul (wk) | 24 | 28 | 2 | 0 | 85.71 |
| Hardik Pandya | 12 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 18 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 85.71 |
| Axar Patel | 10 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Extras (nb, w) | 17 | — | — | — | — |
| Total | 276/8 | 300 | — | — | — |
New Zealand’s Chase in The Match
Chasing 277, New Zealand started well. Devon Conway and Finn Allen added 60 runs quickly. If you watched those first ten overs, you thought they’d breeze through.
However, Mohammed Shami struck in the 12th over. Conway edged one to slip. Then Boult mistimed a shot and was caught in the deep. Suddenly, New Zealand was 75/2.
Kane Williamson tried to steady the ship. He played with patience and skill. Yet, India’s spinners ran through the middle order. Jadeja and Axar combined for three quick wickets.
By the 40th over, New Zealand needed 120 runs with five wickets in hand. Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips fought back with some big shots. They took the score to 210. But Kohli’s catch to dismiss Mitchell was a turning point.
In the end, New Zealand finished on 262/9, falling 14 runs short.
New Zealand Batting Scorecard
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
| Devon Conway | 58 | 72 | 6 | 0 | 80.56 |
| Finn Allen | 42 | 50 | 4 | 1 | 84.00 |
| Kane Williamson (c) | 67 | 85 | 5 | 1 | 78.82 |
| Daryl Mitchell | 36 | 40 | 3 | 0 | 90.00 |
| Tom Latham (wk) | 12 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 85.71 |
| Glenn Phillips | 28 | 25 | 2 | 1 | 112.00 |
| Mitchell Santner | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 70.00 |
| Extras (lb, w) | 14 | — | — | — | — |
| Total | 262/9 | 300 | — | — | — |
Bowling Highlights
- Mohammed Shami (India): 10-0-48-2. He struck early and broke partnerships.
- Jasprit Bumrah (India): 10-1-52-3. He bowled tight lines in the middle overs.
- Ravindra Jadeja (India): 10-0-47-2. His left‑arm spin tied down the batters.
- Axar Patel (India): 10-0-50-1. He kept the runs in check.
New Zealand’s bowlers also impressed:
- Matt Henry: 10-0-55-2. He took key wickets.
- Trent Boult: 10-0-60-1. He swung the new ball well.
Best Moments of The Match
- Shami’s double strike in the powerplay changed the game’s flow.
- Kohli’s century stand with Iyer kept India on track.
- Jadeja’s two quick wickets in the 30th over halted New Zealand’s chase.
- Mitchell’s late cameo gave them hope, but it came too late.
Player of the Match
Virat Kohli earned the award. His unbeaten 78 laid the foundation. He also took a sharp catch to dismiss Mitchell. It was a complete performance.
Final Thoughts
You saw two top sides battling it out in Mumbai. India’s batsmen built a defendable total. Their bowlers held their nerve under pressure. New Zealand fought hard, but ran out of time.
If you love cricket, this match had it all. Great batting, smart bowling, and nail‑biting moments. And it showed why the India–New Zealand rivalry is one of the best in the sport.
Whether you watched it live or caught the highlights later, this game will stay in your memory. And you’ll look back on it as a classic World Cup encounter.
