After dominating Sri Lanka, India will continue their World Cup preparation against New Zealand at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on Wednesday in the first ODI. India had come up with a scintillating performance against Sri Lanka and they will be looking to continue the same against the Blackcaps.
KL Rahul is not part of the ODI squad and thus Ishan Kishan will get his opportunities. The left-hander could not get an ODI game against Sri Lanka and he will be looking to grab his chance after scoring a double-century against Bangladesh.
We look at the current form, head-to-head, players to look out for, and squads of both teams in our match preview.
Current form of India: W W W W L
India was sensational against Sri Lanka but there is no denying the fact that New Zealand will pose a more difficult challenge. The home team has been a force to reckon with in their own conditions and they will be looking to come up with a collective show.
Current form of New Zealand: W W L NR NR
New Zealand had won their previous series against Pakistan and they had also won the ODI series against India after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup. The Kiwis will be without Kane Williamson and Tom Latham will look to lead his troops from the front.
Head to Head: Matches: 113, Won by India: 55, Won by New Zealand: 50, NR: 7, Tied: 1.
India holds a slight advantage against New Zealand in the head-to-head battle.
Players to look out for: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Shreyas Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj, and Mohammed Shami will hold the key for the home team.
Tom Latham, Finn Allen, Lockie Fergusson, Mitchell Santner, Devon Conway, Ish Sodhi, and Glenn Phillips will be the crucial players for the visitors.
India squad
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan (wk), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, KS Bharat (wk), Hardik Pandya (vc), Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umran Malik.
New Zealand squad
Tom Latham (c), Finn Allen, Doug Bracewell [for Matt Henry], Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner.
