AHMEDABAD: For a nation of just 5.3 million people — smaller than many of the world’s major cities — New Zealand’s cricketing rise over the past decade has been remarkable. The Black Caps have reached eight major ICC finals, including the 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cups, the 2021 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy. They also lifted the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021 and made the semifinals of the 2023 ODI World Cup.Their women’s team are the reigning 2024 T20 World Cup champions while the men’s side now stand on the brink of their maiden T20 title when they take on India in the final of the T20 World Cup here on Sunday night.On Friday, New Zealand allrounder Glenn Phillips highlighted the contrast between the two cricketing nations. With India’s population exceeding 1.4 billion, Phillips noted the depth of talent available to the hosts, suggesting they could easily field three competitive sides in a T20 World Cup. New Zealand, by contrast, must rely on a far smaller talent pool.“Obviously we have a few less people in our country to choose from, which means our highperformance programs have to be very specific and tailored to the population we have,” Phillips said ahead of New Zealand’s training session. “But the talent that comes out of India is phenomenal. They could probably pick three sides that would compete just as evenly in this World Cup. So for us to go out and compete with teams around the world with such a small population is fantastic.”Phillips, meanwhile, refused to discount India’s out-of-form mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who conceded 64 runs in four overs against England in the semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. “We’ve played him quite a few times now, which helps,” Phillips said. “We’ll just try to face one ball at a time. He’s allowed to have a good day, but we’re also allowed to have a good day.”‘Bumrah is human as well’Phillips also acknowledged the threat posed by pacer Jasprit Bumrah, whose spells have proven decisive in the hosts’ last two matches. “We had a really good trip against him in the bilateral series but he’s a class bowler,” Phillips said. “Bumrah has so many variations and hits the blockhole at the death incredibly well. But he’s human as well.”
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