India will lock horns against New Zealand in the first T20I of the series at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi on Friday. The home team has been in dominant form in their own backyard and they are going to be a force to reckon with in their own conditions.
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 L W T W
India won their last T20I series by 2-1 against Sri Lanka and they will be looking to continue their good form against New Zealand. It will be a good opportunity for the young players to grab their chances in the T20I format and make a mark.
Current form of New Zealand: T L NR L W
New Zealand had lost their previous T20I series against India when they had played in home conditions. Mitchell Santner will lead an inexperienced team and he will look to get the best out of his players in the three-match series.
Head to Head: Matches: 22, Won by India: 12, Won by New Zealand: 9, Tied: 1.
India holds a slight advantage in the head-to-head contest against the Kiwis.
Players to look out for: Hardik Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, and Arshdeep Singh are going to hold the key for the Men in Blue.
Mitchell Santner, Lockie Ferguson, Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Finn Allen, and Ish Sodhi will be the crucial players for the Blackcaps.
Squads
India: Hardik Pandya (c), Suryakumar Yadav (vc), Ishan Kishan (wk), Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Prithvi Shaw, Mukesh Kumar.
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Dane Cleaver (wk), Devon Conway (wk), Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Ben Lister, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rippon, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner
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