IND vs NZ: Fresh-looking India expect tougher Kiwi challenge in T20I series.

After winning the ODI series rather comfortably in the end, India and New Zealand will gear up for another 3-match series, this time in the shortest format of the game. The first of the three games is set to be played on Friday 27th January in Ranchi, while the next two games are scheduled in Lucknow and Ahmedabad respectively.

After a one-sided affair against Sri Lanka, Team India hoped for a much tougher challenge against a formidable New Zealand side. Apart from a brief period in the 1st ODI, the Blackcaps couldn’t lay a glove on the Indians and were whitewashed 3-0. So, will the 3-match T20I series turn out to be any different or will New Zealand come storming back?

The Indian management’s focus is now purely on the Border-Gavaskar trophy against Australia and potentially a World Test Championship final, which will start in two weeks’ time and understandably hasn’t picked Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Mohammad Shami for this series.

Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Kuldeep Yadav and Suryakumar Yadav are the four players who have been picked for this series and the series against Australia. It is unlikely that the four of them will feature in all three games.

Hardik Pandya has been named as the skipper once again for this series, the 3rd time he has been given the role since the T20 World Cup, aggravating rumours of him being appointed as the full-time captain in the shortest format. India haven’t lost a series yet under Hardik, losing just one game.

Along with Pandya, Suryaumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan and Prithvi Shaw are in the batting department. The bowling line-up is also in decent shape with Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal and Umran Malik. So New Zealand will face a much different side to the one they faced in the 50-over series.

The biggest talking point from India’s squad was the selection of opener Prithvi Shaw. The Mumbai batsman has been included in the team following his exceptional performances in domestic cricket, including a record-breaking 379 runs against Assam in the Ranji Trophy.

It remains to be seen whether India opt for the blistering starts of Shaw or the measured approach of Shubman Gill at the top. Gill has been in terrific ODI form but he has yet to convert that into the shortest format. While the opposite is true for the No.1 ranked T20I batsman in the world, Suryakumar Yadav, who returns to his favoured format after a disappointing one-day series.

New Zealand, on the other hand, have a new skipper as well, with Mitchell Santner handed the reins for this series in the absence of Williamson. They will also be without the services of Southee and Neesham, which leaves their bowling stocks a bit thin.

With Finn Allen and Conway at the top, and Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips in the middle, the batting still looks good. Conway is coming into the game on the back of a fine century in his last ODI, while Finn Allen has also returned to his favoured format. Both Mitchell and Phillips had a forgettable ODI series and would like to bounce back.

But their bowlers will have a hard time containing the Indian batsman and there will be huge pressure on the experienced Lockie Ferguson and Ish Sodhi. The Kiwis will once again have to rely on the likes of Blair Tickner and Jacob Duffy to come good.

The pitches in two of the three games won’t be high-scoring and spinners will play a huge role in both matches. Both Lucknow and Ahmedabad have offered some turn and grip for the spinners, so the Kiwi batsman might have a hard time facing the Indian spinners. The two teams might also opt for two spinners in the side for these games.

The last time India and New Zealand met in a T20I series was in November 2022, but their three-match series was hampered by rain and only one game was able to take place. Despite this, India were able to come out on top with a 1-0 series win, thanks to a special innings from Suryakumar Yadav. Now, with the weather looking clear, both teams are eager to take the lead in the upcoming series.

Also Read:IND vs NZ 3rd ODI: India vs New Zealand 3rd ODI Highlights