While Robin Uthappa had scored a fifty in one of the games, the likes of Moeen Ali and Ambati Rayudu have failed to capitalise on their starts.
The West Indies are currently lying seventh in the 10-team standings with just three points in their kitty and they can't afford any further loss to stay in the mix for a semifinal spot.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson enjoyed a return to form but his Hyderabad Sunrisers were left sweating on their Indian Premier League play-off hopes after a four-wicket loss to the Royal Challengers Bangalore on Saturday.
De Grandhomme fell before the end but Williamson reached his century with a six in the final over and guided New Zealand to their fourth win of the tournament with three balls to spare.
'It is one of those things that every day, often, you are having small conversations about it'
Images from the World Cup match between New Zealand and Pakistan, at Birmingham, on Wednesday.
New Zealand had to play out of their skin but a top order meltdown has left them on the brink of defeat
In the World Test Championship final in June, New Zealand, in all likelihood, will meet either India or England, who will clash in a four-Test series, starting on Friday.
While only two games produced results in the composite six-match white-ball series in New Zealand owing to rain, Dhawan hoped that the weather will be better in Bangladesh.
'The two fast bowlers that did play were outstanding. Bowling long overs was an unbelievable effort. We know this Indian side is a very strong one.'
IMAGES from the IPL match played between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore in Hyderabad on Monday
India's T20 series opener against New Zealand was washed out on Friday without a ball being bowled, following steady rain at the Sky Stadium in Wellington.
India batsman Dinesh Karthik feels the challenge young wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal encountered in the first ODI against New Zealand will only make them "mentally tougher" for future games.
Afghanistan boast of an arsenal of high-class spinners including skipper Rashid Khan and Mujeeb ur Rahman and Noor Ahmad.
'It's obviously a great challenge that's ahead and I guess it's something to look forward to.'
Skipper Kane Williamson hailed the fighting spirit of Sunrisers Hyderabad while praising star Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan's all-round brilliance which earned them a 14-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in Qualifier 2 of the Indian Premier League and a place in Sunday's final.
Would he continue to be calm under pressure now that he is leading the side?
Washington Sundar re-injured the same area while fielding against CSK on Sunday.
Star India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant heaped praise on youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal and said that the 22-year-old is someone who stays in the present and doesn't think about the future.
New Zealand find themselves in the a difficult group with two-time champions West Indies and Afghanistan also vying for the the top two spots.
Indian captain Virat Kohli has had an ordinary Test series against Australia with scores of 0, 13, 12 and 15 in the two matches so far and has slipped one place to fourth, logging 847 points.
Captain Virat Kohli admitted that India were at least 30 runs short while lauding the application shown by New Zealand's batsmen, especially Tom Latham, in the first One-Day International at the Wankhede stadium, in Mumbai, on Sunday.
India captain Hardik Pandya on Friday said the limited-overs tour of New Zealand is all about role clarity and opportunities for new players in the team.
After England collapsed from 288 for five to 302 all out, New Zealand initially struggled in reply before Williamson and Taylor took the game away from the hosts with a clinical 206-run third-wicket stand.
Images from Day 3 of the first Test between India and New Zealand, at Green Park, Kanpur, on Saturday.
India are poised for their third T20 International series triumph in five years but would be wary of a strong fightback from the usually plucky New Zealand when the two sides clash in the second game of the three-match series in Rajkot.
South Africa will need their bowlers to step up to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
Stead said about Kane that he is a batter who rises for big occasions, calling him a "special player".
England won't rush Ben Stokes into the playing XI against New Zealand if he is not completely fit, skipper captain Jos Buttler said on Wednesday, hinting that the explosive batter might not start in the World Cup opener.
Royal Challengers Bangalore will take on table-toppers Sunrisers Hyderabad in another must-win Indian Premier League encounter
Seifert blitzkrieg helps Kiwis beat India in opening T20
pener Colin Munro smashed a career-best 109 not out to help secure New Zealand's series-levelling 40-run victory in the second Twenty20 International against India, in Rajkot, on Saturday.
Images from Day 1 of the first Test between England and New Zealand at Lord's on Thursday, June 2, 2022.
Jacob Duffy, Blair Tickner, Rachin Ravindra and Hamish Rutherford were released from the initial 20 player squad.
For Hyderabad, KXIP encounter is the last game where they can avail the services of Warner before he leaves home for Australia's World Cup preparations alongside Steven Smith and Marcus Stoinis.
Indian team and its skipper Virat Kohli consolidate their respective pole positions in the latest ICC Test rankings.
Australia skipper Pat Cummins bowled Kane Williamson in the final hour of play on the second day of the second Test in Christchurch on Saturday, just as the master batsman threatened an innings that would put New Zealand on top.
Left-arm spinner Axar Patel picked up five wickets to help India grab a handy 49-run first-innings lead on Day 3 of the first Test against New Zealand on Saturday.
Kane Williamson, spinners set up NZ's 35-run win over Ireland
Tim Southee, once half of the most feared new-ball partnership in the game, brought down the curtain on a glittering 16-year Test career after New Zealand crushed England for a consolation win in Hamilton on Tuesday.
