KEY POINTS
- New Zealand aims for historic series win in India after Test and ODI successes.
- India enters with dominant form, having won eight consecutive T20I series.
- Both squads are boosted by key returns like Santner, Bumrah, and Pandya.
ISLAMABAD: A high-stakes five-match T20I series between India and New Zealand commences here on Wednesday, serving as the final competitive outing for both squads before the T20 World Cup.
The series is laden with narrative, as New Zealand arrives emboldened by a historic ODI series win, aiming to secure a unique treble of victories in India across all three formats.
New Zealand’s quest for a first
The Black Caps have recently shattered long-standing barriers in India, securing their first-ever Test series win here in late 2024 and following it with a maiden ODI series triumph just days ago.
They now turn their attention to claiming a proper bilateral T20I series, a feat that has eluded them in two previous attempts.
This pursuit runs directly into the form of a formidable Indian team, which has won eight consecutive bilateral T20I series since lifting the T20 World Cup in June 2024, boasting a staggering 29-5 record in the format since that final.
Returns and injury woes
New Zealand is bolstered by the return of skipper Mitchell Santner from injury, alongside pacers Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry.
For India, the talismanic Jasprit Bumrah returns, as do the crucial all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel.
Injury concerns linger, however. New Zealand is monitoring Michael Bracewell (calf) and Adam Milne (hamstring), with Kristian Clarke added as cover.
India will be without Tilak Varma (abdomen) for the first three games, prompting a T20I recall for Shreyas Iyer, while Ravi Bishnoi replaces the recovering Washington Sundar.
Axar Patel and Tim Robinson
For India, Axar Patel’s return is critical. His precise left-arm spin, which is difficult to sweep, could counter New Zealand’s successful spin-disruption strategy from the ODIs.
His batting prowess against spin adds vital depth.
For New Zealand, opener Tim Robinson enters outside the World Cup squad but with a point to prove.
Known for his powerplay explosiveness, a strong performance against this Indian attack could force a late re-think from selectors.
Conditions and Pitch Outlook
The VCA Stadium in Nagpur, with its large outfield and history of assisting spinners, sets the stage.
Spinners boast the second-best average here among major Indian T20 venues.
The weather is forecast to be pleasant and dry for the series opener, promising ideal playing conditions.
Historical echoes and key stats
The venue holds memories of a famous New Zealand tactical masterclass from the 2016 T20 World Cup, where they deployed three spinners to bowl India out for 79.
Statistically, the series features leading wicket-takers: India’s Kuldeep Yadav has the best average (13.17) among Full-Member bowlers with 50+ T20I wickets, while New Zealand’s Lockie Ferguson (17.00) ranks among the top-three averaging pacemen in the format’s history.
Squads for the T20I Series
India (Probable): Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shreyas Iyer (first three T20Is), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vice-capt), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravi Bishnoi.
New Zealand (Probable): Mitchell Santner (capt), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Bevon Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Ish Sodhi, Kristian Clarke.
