India vs New Zealand T20Is: 3 New Zealand players to watch out for

New Zealand will host India for a full tour starting with the five-match T20I series at Eden Park in Auckland on 24 January.

The Kiwis go into the matches against India on the back of a horrible run in Australia. Not only were they blanked 3-0 in the Tests, but a lot of their players suffered from fitness and illness issues too.

The Kiwis will be happy to be back on familiar territory. Although India are a strong outfit irrespective of the conditions, New Zealand will be confident owing to their superior record in T20Is against India.

New Zealand have won eight and lost only three matches out of the 11 games played against the Indians. Even during India’s tour early last year, they won a close, three-match series 2-1.

Kane Williamson returns to captain New Zealand’s T20I squad after missing the England series in November with a hip injury. On that note, here’s a look at three players from the home side who can have a significant impact on the series.

#3 Ish Sodhi

Ish Sodhi

The 27-year-old New Zealand leg-spinner is the leading wicket-taker in India-New Zealand T20Is. In seven matches against India, Ish Sodhi has picked up 11 wickets at an average of 16.18 and a strike rate of 12.5.

His best figures of 3 for 18 famously came at Nagpur during the World T20 clash in 2016 as India, chasing 127, were bowled out for 79.

Also see – Under 19 world cup most wickets

Sodhi was impressive during New Zealand’s tour of India in 2017 as well. He picked up 2 for 25 at Rajkot and 2 for 23 at Thiruvananthapuram even as India emerged victorious. Sodhi claimed a further three wickets against India during the home series early last year.

The sight of the country where he was born seems to get the best out of him. Sodhi will be keen to add to his impressive record against India in the five T20Is.

#2 Tim Seifert

Tim Seifert

New Zealand’s attacking wicket-keeper batsman Tim Seifert was one of the key reasons New Zealand got the better of India in T20Is the last time these two teams met. He slammed a fierce 84 from 43 balls with seven fours and six sixes in the Wellington T20I early last year as the Kiwis won the contest by a whopping 80 runs.

In the decider at Hamilton, Seifert blasted 43 from 25 to get the Kiwis off to a flying start. He was declared man of the series as New Zealand won the close contest by four runs.

Before and after the India series though, Seifert hasn’t done a lot of note. He did produce a blazing 39 off 16 balls with five sixes in the tied T20I at Auckland in November 2019 (which England won in the Super Over) in what was an action replay of sorts of the World Cup final, but he would be keen to add more consistency to his game when India come visiting.

#1 Colin Munro

Colin Munro

New Zealand’s opening batsman Colin Munro is a highly dangerous cricketer with three T20I hundreds, one of them coming against India - his best of 109 not out. The brilliant knock came off only 58 balls at Rajkot on 4 November 2017. Munro hit seven fours and as many sixes in the incredible innings as the Kiwis won the contest by 40 runs.

The left-hander has an excellent record against India in T20Is; in seven games he has scored 248 runs at an average of 41.33 and a strike rate of 165.33.

Munro, in fact, was the man of the match as the Kiwis clinched the decider at Hamilton against India early last year. With the series tied 1-1, Munro blazed away to 72 from 40 balls as the hosts posted 212 and emerged victorious in the contest by four runs.

India will have to get rid of Munro early this time, or else they could be in for a leather hunt.