The first match of the three-match T20 series between India and New Zealand is to be played in Wellington on 18 November (Friday). In the absence of captain Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya is captaining the Indian team in this series. The Indian team will aim to forget the disappointment of the T20 World Cup and make a fresh start. This match will start at 12 noon Indian time.
Ishaan Kishan and Shubman Gill can start the innings in the first T20 match. By the way, the team management can also give another chance to Rishabh Pant in the top order. India is fielding a second-rate team in New Zealand but despite this the team members have decent international experience. In the last 12 months, Ishaan Kishan has been getting regular chances at the top of the order and through this series he would like to prove his worth.
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Sanju Samson has got another chance and he will be eager to take advantage of it. Washington Sundar will also return to the team with this series and he will also be expected to perform well with bat and ball. One of the major reasons for India’s problems in T20 is the inability of finger spinners to take wickets in the middle overs. In such a situation, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal may get a chance to bowl together again in this series.
All eyes will be on Umran Malik
The eyes of Indian fans will be on fast bowler Umran Malik. Umran Malik did not find much success on his first tour of Ireland and England and will look to bowl accurately without compromising on pace. Like Australia, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh are expected to share the new ball in New Zealand. Harshal Patel and Mohammad Siraj, who were sitting on the bench during the World Cup, may also get a chance in the playing XI during the series.
India has the upper hand on paper
There have been 20 T20 matches between India and New Zealand so far. In which India has won 11 (two super overs) and New Zealand has won 9 matches. During this, India has played a total of 10 matches against New Zealand on its land, in which Team India won 6 matches (2 super overs). At the same time, the Kiwi team has won four. In the last tour of the year 2020, the Indian team had eliminated the Kiwi team in the five-match T20 series.
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On the other hand, New Zealand is fielding its strong team under the leadership of Kane Williamson. Like India, the New Zealand team is also recovering from another defeat in the knockout match of the World Cup and will come down with the intention of making a strong comeback. In the absence of New Zealand’s Trent Boult, other fast bowlers are expected to be tried. Opener Martin Guptill is also not playing in the series. In such a situation, the responsibility of starting the innings will be on the shoulders of Devon Conway and Finn Allen.
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (Captain), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Daryl Mitchell, Adam Milne, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner.
India: Hardik Pandya (Captain), Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshal Patel, Mohammad Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik .