India vs New Zealand T20s: 4 players who could be valuable picks in your fantasy playing XI

India will resume its preparations for ICC T20 World Cup in October 2020, with a five-match series against New Zealand. This is the first time India will be playing a five-match T20I bilateral series. The long duration will help the team management to experiment with players to fill up the slots in the squad.

Having threatened Shikhar Dhawan's opening spot, KL Rahul's versatility has resulted in threatening Rishabh Pant's place as well. With Hardik Pandya unfit, the all-rounder's slot will be contested between Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja. The Indian team will be hoping to find answers by giving them a proper run in the series.

But it won't be easy against New Zealand, who have been excellent in the shorter formats in 2019. They have dominated India in T20Is with eight wins to three losses, hence the series will be a highly competitive one. India would also seek revenge for their heartbreaking defeat in the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup. With many stars eager to secure their spots, here are four valuable picks for your fantasy cricket team.

#4 Tim Seifert

There is something attractive about New Zealand keepers who play an aggressive brand of cricket. A comparison of Tim Seifert with Brendon McCullum began after he played a whirlwind knock of 84 off 43 balls against India in the 2019 T20I series.

Also see – World Test Championship Schedule

It was his man of the series performance that helped them win the series 2-1. The 25-year-old will be looking to do the same to stake claim a permanent opening spot in the team for the World Cup. His style of play, that of attacking the bowlers with unorthodox shots makes him a perfect opener for T20s.

He capitalises in the powerplay by hitting boundaries over the in-field and will be a force to reckon with. Seifert has been in fine form in the Super Smash, New Zealand's domestic T20 competition. He could be the X-factor for the home team and his presence might boost your squad.

Note: All statistics as of January 21, 2019

#3 Mohammed Shami

<a href='https://www.sportskeeda.com/player/mohammed-shami-ahmed' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer'>Mohammed Shami</a> — Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami had a terrific 2019 for India in all three formats. His tally of 77 wickets is second only to Pat Cummins in the list of highest wicket-takers in 2019. In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, the 29-year old pacer led the bowling attack with great success in the second half of the season.

He will again play a key role in the series against New Zealand as he did in 2019. His ascendancy began with a series-winning performance in New Zealand last year. His wicket-taking ability will be a big threat for the Kiwis.

His accuracy in executing the yorkers in the death overs will help him to pick wickets. His partnership with Jasprit Bumrah will strengthen India's death bowling department. With shorter boundaries and the pitch expected to be batsmen-friendly, Virat Kohli will depend on Shami's class to deliver the goods with the ball.

To the surprise of everyone, Shami has played only eight T20Is for India. He might want to play more before going to Australia. With more points for wickets in T20Is, Shami will be a valuable choice for the series.

#2 Kane Williamson

<a href='https://www.sportskeeda.com/player/ks-williamson' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer'><a href='https://www.sportskeeda.com/player/ks-williamson' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer'>Kane Williamson</a></a> — Kane Williamson

Kane Williamson returns to lead New Zealand against India, after missing out on the last two T20I series. Not only does the skipper wants to score runs but also build a squad for the World Cup, which is 9 months away. The right-hander's presence will be key for the home team.

His calm demeanour gets reflected in his batting style, which eases the pressure off his team mates. Despite playing orthodox risk-free cricketing shots, Williamson is one of the most effective players in the T20 format. The way he played in IPL 2018 showed his adaptability for the format. So, the 2019 World Cup's player of the tournament will be a tough nut to crack for the Indian bowlers.

It will be interesting to see where Williamson bats. Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, and Tim Seifert form a solid top-3. Colin de Grandhomme found success at no.4. So the challenge for the captain is to find a perfect batting slot for himself. On his day, he could win games single-handedly. So it is worthy enough to pick him in your squad.

#1 Virat Kohli

It seems that Virat Kohli's purple patch as a batsman is forever, as he guided India to yet another series win against Australia. He will continue to lead the charge for India with the bat. His records in the shorter formats have been growing exponentially, with he himself being the only threat to them.

More than his batting, the series is more important for Kohli the captain. Injuries have ruled out T20 regulars Hardik Pandya and Deepak Chahar. The lower-middle order will be in question as no one seems to have sealed their spot. He would also want to win a T20 series in New Zealand as Indians have failed to do so till now.

The 31-year old thrives to perform under pressure. Hence this might be the series where he breaks that jinx against the Kiwis. The five-match series presents a new opportunity for the leading run-scorer ever (2689 runs @ 52.72) in T20 Internationals to create more records. Given the form he is in, Kohli walks into your team straight away.