After thrashing the hosts 4-1 in the 5 match ODI series, it is time for the shortest format to take the centre stage with the first T20I scheduled to take place at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Wednesday.
India were magnificent in the ODI series barring the fourth game where they were pummeled by 8 wickets, but a win in the final encounter has given them the much-needed confidence which they lacked in the fourth ODI.
The Blackcaps were not at all up to the mark in the ODI series and they will look to start fresh in the T20Is. Ahead of the first encounter, they were stuck with a heavy blow when Martin Guptill was ruled out of the series due to a back injury which even forced him to sit out of the last ODI.
All-rounder James Neesham who was brought in for the last two ODIs has been named as his replacement and is expected to feature right from the first match. He was terrific in the ODI series against Sri Lanka and also the Super Smash League with both bat and ball and will look to continue his good run of form in the T2O series as well.
For the visitors, skipper Kohli will once again miss out after he was rested for the last two ODIs and T20I series. Rohit Sharma will once again don the skipper’s hat just the way he did in the last two ODIs and will look to win his first overseas T20I series as skipper.
Where – Westpac Stadium, Wellington
When – February 06, Wednesday at 11:30 AM IST
India Squad:
New Zealand Squad:
India:
MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Shikhar Dhawan, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Kedar Jadhav, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddarth Kaul, Krunal Pandya.
New Zealand:
Tim Seifert, Kane Williamson, Colin Munro, Ross Taylor, Doug Bracewell, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Southee, Scott Kuggeleijn, Ish Sodhi. (Doubt: Lockie Ferguson)
Fantasy picks from India
Fantasy picks from New Zealand
Note: Make IND vs NZ Dream11 Team as per your discretion from the squad listed above and team news.