Danny Morrison names the key player for India in the World Cup

After conquering Australia, Virat Kohli’s India are now ready to take on the Kangaroos’ Trans-Tasman neighbours New Zealand. They will play a five-match ODI series starting January 23 followed by three T20Is. The Black Caps are ranked just behind India in the ICC ODI table and could prove to be a more competitive opponent than the defending world champions.

India have beaten the Kiwis in an ODI series on their turf only once so far (3-1 in the 2008-09 season) and lead 51-44 in the head-to-head summary. The last two ODI series the two teams played were in India with the Asians winning on both occasions under the captaincy of Kohli. The captain will now look to end yet another tour of the SENA countries in style.

Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who had a terrific Test series against Australia and also ended among the top five bowlers in Tests in his debut year (2018) won accolades in New Zealand although he is not playing against the Kiwis. Former Kiwi pacer Danny Morrison said the skiddy pacer will be key to India’s chances at the ICC World Cup starting in England and Wales on May 30. Bumrah was also rested for the ODI series against Australia.

Bumrah classic product of IPL

“Bumrah is a classic product of IPL and white-ball cricket development of new breed of India talent,” Morrison, who is doing commentary for the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League, told Sportstar on Sunday.

“It is fabulous to see the ‘unusual’/unorthodox bowling actions still cutting it at the highest levels of the game, unearthing unique talents from the subcontinent,” Morrison, one of the most prominent pacers New Zealand produced after the legendary Richard Hadlee, added.

Morrison, who has 186 international wickets, also said the “healthy mutual respect” between Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri is also key for India’s success and hailed the coach as an “important cog in the machine”.

Morrison, who was part of the New Zealand team that had a dream run in the 1992 World Cup under Martin Crowe, was also optimistic about his own country in the upcoming quadrennial tournament. New Zealand bettered their 1992 record by reaching the final of the 2015 edition where they lost to rivals Australia.

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