World Cup 2019: 3 New Zealand players India need to watch out for

India are off to a flying start at the World Cup 2019, having won both of their matches. The men in blue defeated two very strong opponents, South Africa and Australia, quite convincingly in the first two matches of the tournament.

The victory in the last match against Australia in particular was a big boost for Virat Kohli and Co. The batsmen pile up a huge score and the bowlers did well to defend it. It was an all-round team effort, and an encouraging sign for the rest of the tournament.

Now the next challenge for India is New Zealand at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. The Black Caps are looking like a very organized team, having won all three matches that they have played so far. They are currently at the top of the table.

Ahead of the India vs New Zealand match on Thursday, let's have a look at three Kiwi players that India should watch out for:

#3 Lockie Ferguson

Bangladesh v New Zealand - ICC Cricket World Cup 2019

Lockie Ferguson is a right arm fast bowler who can make the ball zip around at close to 150 kmph. In the opening match of the tournament New Zealand bowled out Sri Lanka for just 137 runs, and Ferguson picked up 3 for 22 in 6.2 overs.

The most scary part for the opposition batsmen is that Ferguson is picking up wickets at the World Cup at a good rate along with being economical. He is the leading wicket-taker of the tournament so far with 8 wickets in 3 matches at an economy of 3.88.

The Indian batsmen like the ball coming on to the bat, but facing a speed of 150 kmph constantly would make any batsman in the world feel uncomfortable. So the Indian top order would have to be careful against Ferguson at the start of the innings.

#2 Kane Williamson

Kane Williamson

Kane Williamson is a world-class batsman with a fabulous record in all forms of cricket. He is the main pillar of the New Zealand batting line-up, and just like Virat Kohli, Williamson also likes the added responsibility of being the captain of the side.

Williamson bats at No. 3 with all the other Kiwi batsmen playing around him. He holds the innings together for New Zealand and knows how to shift gears when required.

Williamson has already played a couple of vital innings in the tournament. He didn’t have to bat in the first against Sri Lanka but in the second match against Bangladesh, he made a crucial 42 runs in a low-scoring match. Then against Afghanistan, he settled in nicely with an unbeaten knock of 79 in a run chase.

Williamson is a very good player of spin bowling and that’s why he enjoys a good record against India in all three formats of the game. He averages nearly 39 against India in ODIs and would be a dangerous customer for the men in blue.

#1 Trent Boult

Trent Boult

Trent Boult is one of the most underrated fast bowlers in world cricket at the moment. Boult is the third fastest to 150 ODI wickets, having gotten there in just 81 matches.

If the conditions comply, there are very few bowlers around who can make the ball talk like Boult. His significance is enhanced even more when you consider that Team India has historically struggled against left arm fast bowlers.

The Indian top order, which comprises of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli, have all struggled against Boult in the past.

Dhawan has the worst record among the top three against Boult, having been dismissed five times out of eight battles. But since Dhawan has been ruled out for three weeks due to a thumb injury, Boult's prime target would be Rohit and Kohli. Rohit has been dismissed 23 times by left-arm pacers in his career and three of those for ducks.

Trent Boult at Trent Bridge can be a deadly force as the conditions in Nottingham may be pace friendly due to the rain of the past few days. The conditions are expected to remain overcast for the rest of the week and if that's the case then Boult would be a serious threat to the Indian top order.

Boult has an impressive record against India, having picked up 22 wickets in 12 matches. In the recent warm-up game against the Men in Blue his figures were 4 for 33 which caused India to get all-out for just 179 runs.