New Zealand hit back after losing openers against India

Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell hit back in an attacking stand after New Zealand lost their openers early against fellow unbeaten India in Sunday's top-of-the-table World Cup clash.

The left-handed Ravindra, who is of Indian origin, and Mitchell put on 81 runs to steer the Kiwis for 100-2 in 21 overs after being invited to bat first in the Himalayan hill town of Dharamsala.

New Zealand started slowly but Ravindra and Mitchell hit six fours and three sixes between them to take on the opposition attack.

Fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami took down Devon Conway, for a duck, and Will Young, for 17, as New Zealand slipped to 19-2.

Both teams have won four games each in the round-robin tournament but New Zealand top the 10-team table due to superior run-rate.

Earlier, India skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bowl first against fellow unbeaten New Zealand in Sunday's top-of-the-table clash of the World Cup.

India have made two changes after they lost star all-rounder Hardik Pandya due to an ankle injury and has not travelled with the team to the Himalayan venue.

Twenty20 batting sensation Suryakumar Yadav and fast bowler Mohammed Shami make the team in place of Pandya and Shardul Thakur.

The Kiwis come in unchanged from their previous win over Afghanistan. They have three seamers led by Trent Boult and two spinners.

Regular captain Kane Williamson is sidelined with a fractured thumb.

"We were here training yesterday and felt that a bit of dew comes in," Rohit said at the toss.

"Looks like a good pitch, we'll back ourselves to chase."

Stand-in New Zealand skipper Tom Latham said he also would have bowled first had he won the toss, but they are looking to keep the "momentum going".

The Black Caps have an edge in World Cup match-ups with a 5-3 advantage and knocked out India in the semi-finals of the last edition in 2019.

Teams

India: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj

New Zealand: Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Tom Latham (capt/wk), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Mark Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult

Umpires: Michael Gough (IND), Richard Kettleborough (IND)

TV Umpire: Paul Wilson (AUS)

Match Referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)