IND vs NZ 1st T20: India Possible XI

After defeating New Zealand 4-1 in the five-match one-day series, the eyes of the Team India sets its eyes on the 3 match T20I series starting on Wednesday. The first match of the T20 Series will be played at Westpac Stadium. This is the same ground where India won the fifth ODI and ended the drought of 16 years. New Zealand was expected to have competitive cricket before the ODI series but it was only in the fourth match that it got a good game and in all the remaining matches, India was forced to lose due to the finest performance.

T20 is a different format, where New Zealand is dominating. If we talk about both the teams, then India and New Zealand have played nine T20 matches so far since 2007, of which only India has won only two matches and Kiwi team has won six matches, while one match was canceled.

India and New Zealand Match Results

There is concern for India if we see the statistics as the Kiwi team is always dominated India. New Zealand have played two T20 matches against India in their home country and have won both, one of which was played on this ground in 2009.

But current Indian team is in tremendous form beating Australia in Australia and on New Zealand tour beaten New Zealand in ODI series by 4-1.

“We would be looking to win the series and carry the momentum back home for the Australia series,” Shikhar Dhawan told reporters on Tuesday. 

It is good opportunity for youngsters like Rishabh Pant, Krunal Pandya, Khaleel Ahmed, Siddarth Kaul, Shubman Gill to perform to their potentials and grab the World Cup spot.

Veteran India wicketkeeper-batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni also returned to the T20I squad after a long hiatus. The Ranchi stumper last featured in a T20 match in July.

India Squads:

India: Rohit Sharma(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav, M.S. Dhoni, Krunal Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddarth Kaul, Khaleel Ahmed, Shubman Gill, Vijay Shankar, Hardik Pandya, Mohammad Siraj. 

India Possible XI

Rohit Sharma (C), Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, MS Dhoni (WK), Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Siddarth Kaul

New Zealand Squad:

Kane Williamson (c), Doug Bracewell, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Scott Kuggeleijn, Colin Munro, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner, James Neesham.

India vs New Zealand 2019 T20I Series Schedule, Fixtures, Venues and Timings