After losing 3-0 at the ODI, New Zealand are keen to break in T20I Round 3, when the first match starts here at the JSCA International Stadium Complex on Friday.
But given India’s brilliant home record in the T20Is, New Zealand’s dry run could last well.
India won her 10th and played her two of her 12 recent bilateral T20I matches in the country. Her last series loss dates back to February 2019 (vs Australia).
The team also won his T20I stage in three games when the team toured New Zealand last November.
India have made a significant personnel change from a team that remains undefeated in the ODI. Rohit Sharma misses, Virat Kohli misses. Hardik Pandya, who led the unit in the T20Is match against Sri Lanka earlier this month, will continue as captain.
Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami are ODI’s top pacesetters, giving way to Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Mavi and his uncapped Mukesh Kumar.
Mumbai batsman Prithvi Shaw has returned to international cricket after an impressive run in domestic cricket. Shaw was able to open the batting with Shubman Gill, a standout player in the previous leg. Gill is poised to make the mark in the shortest format, scoring 208 and 112 in his ODIs in the 1st and 3rd respectively. Suryakumar Yadav had a disappointing ODI but New Zealand will find him really good in T20Is. Ranked #1 in the ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings, his Suryakumar has set the bar high with an unconventional and fearless range of shots.
Ishan Kishan, who only managed 30 runs in his ODI for three, should brace himself.
Injured Sanju in Sri Lanka T20Is Vidarva, who came on for Samson and his cricketer Jitesh Sharma could find a spot as wicketkeeper batsman should Kishan be relegated.
Batter Rituraj Gaikwad has been ruled out of his three T20Is with a wrist injury, it was announced here on Thursday. No replacement for Guy Quad will be named.
His Kuldeep Yadav, the left arm of the wrist, has been revived in Indian colors. After spending some time in the wild, Kuldeep recently proved his worth in his cricket 50 overs. Kuldeep last played his T20I back in August of last year, but hopes to rush when he returns to the format.
New Zealand are led by all-rounder Mitchell Santner. Ben Lister, a fast left-arm bowler who has performed well in super smashes, is nearing his first international cap.
“I’ve seen a lot of Listers over the last few years. He’s grown a lot as a bowler. The angle of his left arm swinging away from his right hand is something new and different. He’s also bowling a pretty good wheel. I did,” Santner said at a press conference on Thursday.