New Zealand vs India 2019, 1st T20I: Preview And Prediction

Preview

After beating the Kiwis on their home soil in the ODI series after ten long years, Team India is ready to shine in the T20 format. India won the series in the third match itself under the leadership of Virat Kohli. The Kiwis, however, would be hoping to bounce back from the series defeat and clinch the T20I series. Kane Williamson must be eager to lead his team from the front as he has failed to perform in this series with the bat.

The Blue Brigade made a great comeback in the final ODI after they were reeling for 18-4 in the first innings. They looked a bit agitated in the middle, and the Indian fate seemed similar to the fourth ODI. Ambati Rayudu played a sensible knock under pressure along with Vijay Shankar to bring them back into the contest. Hardik Pandya also played a crucial inning to take the visitors to a total of 252. The Black Caps could only manage to score 217 runs in 44.1 overs while chasing and lost the match by 35 runs.

Team India would be aiming to seal this T20I series and end this historic tour on a high. The visitors will be without their best batsman (Virat Kohli) and best bowler (Jasprit Bumrah) in this series. Rohit Sharma will lead the Indian team in Kohli’s absence. Rishabh Pant, Siddharth Kaul and Krunal Pandya will join the squad for the three-match series. The Kiwis will miss Martin Guptill due to his back injury; Jimmy Neesham is set to replace him.

Game Details

Date: Wednesday, February 06, 2019.

Time: 12:30 PM IST

Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington

League: India tour of New Zealand 2019

Live Telecast: Star Sports Network

Online Streaming: Hotstar

Ground Stats T20

Total Matches- 9

Matches won batting first- 2

Matches won bowling first- 7

Average 1st Inns scores- 152

Average 2nd Inns scores- 130

Highest total recorded- 196/5 (20 Ov) by NZ vs PAK

Lowest total recorded- 101/10 (16.1 Ov) by PAK vs NZ

Highest score chased- 163/6 (19 Ov) by NZ vs WI

Lowest score defended- 162/8 (20 Ov) by NZ vs SL

Team News

India

• Rishabh Pant can be included in the playing XI as a middle order batsman.
• Either Krunal or Chahal will start in the playing XI.

New Zealand:

• Martin Guptill has been ruled out due to a back injury.
• All-rounder James Neesham is set to replace him.

SQUADS

India:

Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, MS Dhoni(WK), Rishabh Pant, Kedhar Jadhav, Vijay Shankar, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Sidharth Kaul, Khaleel Ahmed

New Zealand:

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

KEY PLAYERS

India

• Rohit Sharma
• Rishabh Pant
• Hardik Pandya

New Zealand

• Colin Munro
• Kane Williamson(c)
• Ross Taylor

Probable Playing XI

India

1. Rohit Sharma(c)
2. Shikhar Dhawan
3. Shubman Gill
4. Rishabh Pant
5. MS Dhoni(wk)
6. Kedar Jadhav
7. Hardik Pandya
8. Chahal/Krunal
9. Kuldeep Yadav
10. Bhuvneshwar Kumar
11. Sidharth Kaul

New Zealand

1. Tim Siefert(WK)
2. Colin Munro
3. Kane Williamson(C)
4. Ross Taylor
5. Daryl Mitchell
6. James Neesham/Colin de Grandhomme
7. Mitchell Santner
8. Scott Kuggeleijn
9. Doug Bracewell
10. Lockie Ferguson
11. Ish Sodhi