Win Projections to be updated soon
In a highly anticipated showdown, table-toppers New Zealand and hosts India are set to lock horns in match number 21 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamsala on Sunday. This encounter revives memories of their nail-biting 2019 World Cup semifinal, where New Zealand emerged victorious, marking a poignant moment as MS Dhoni bid farewell to international cricket.
The 2019 World Cup semifinal was marred by rain, forcing the game to be completed on a reserve day, and history seems to be repeating itself. The 2019 World Cup also saw a league stage match between India and New Zealand washed out without a ball being bowled due to rain at Trent Bridge. Now, the weather forecast for the upcoming clash at Dharamsala appears to be unfavorable once more.
Weather Report
According to the Meteorological Department, as captains Rohit Sharma and Tom Latham head out for the toss at around 2 pm IST, there is a 43 percent possibility of rain and the looming threat of thunderstorms. These conditions may delay the toss and impact the match. The previous World Cup 2023 encounter at HPCA Stadium between South Africa and Netherlands was also disrupted by rain and reduced to a 43-overs-a-side contest.
The teams can expect a chilly day in Dharamsala, with the maximum temperature hovering around 13 degrees Celsius, a far cry from the scorching 37 degrees in Mumbai the day before. Moreover, there will be a 74 percent cloud cover, and by evening, temperatures are expected to drop a couple of degrees further, with the stadium engulfed in 100 percent cloud cover.
It’s worth noting that, unlike some previous World Cups, the ICC World Cup 2023 does not include a ‘Reserve Day’ for league matches. Therefore, if the match on Sunday is washed out due to rain, both India and New Zealand will be awarded one point each.
While rain has largely spared the teams in other World Cup 2023 venues so far, both India and New Zealand faced rain interruptions in their warm-up matches in Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram. As the cricketing world eagerly awaits this high-stakes encounter, the capricious weather of Dharamsala threatens to add another layer of unpredictability to this already intense rivalry.
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