Top-ranked India, fresh off dethroning New Zealand in ODIs, target more success

 

A second successive 3-0 ODI series sweep at home and the Indian cricket team, now No 1 both white-ball formats, heads into a three-match T20Is contest with New Zealand to be played in Ranchi, Lucknow and Ahmedabad from January 27 to February 1.

For the last time an Indian team lost a T20I series at home, rewind to February 2019 when Australia blanked them 2-0. Since then, India have won series against Bangladesh, West Indies (twice), Sri Lanka (thrice), England, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia. There were two drawn series as well, which just underlines how tough it has been to leave these shores with a T20I trophy.

As has been the case for most of the past year, Rohit Sharma has been rested for these three T20Is and Hardik Pandya will once more resume the leadership with Suryakumar Yadav his deputy. Also absent are Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Axar Patel – the latter two were also rested for the ODIs – which means that for the second T20I series in a row, India will be without their preferred top three from the 2021 and 2022 T20 World Cups.

In the absence of Kane Williamson, the allrounder Mitchell Santner will lead New Zealand. Santner has previously captained the Black Caps in 11 T20Is, of which eight were in 2022.

 

TEAM NEWS

 

INDIA

India’s T20I squad includes the recalled Prithvi Shaw, who last played an international match in July 21. Whether he gets a chance immediately is not clear, because ahead of him in the pecking order are Ishan Kishan, the first-choice wicketkeeper, Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad.

Kuldeep Yadav, who was the joint highest wicket-taker in the ODI win over New Zealand, is another player back in the T20I setup and he will once more vie for a spot in the 11 with Yuzvendra Chahal. The two wristspinners were reunited in the third ODI and shared five wickets, so that might be an indication of how India pick their T20I team for at least the Ranchi match.

With pace bowler Harshal Patel dropped, it seems likely that Shivam Mavi, who debuted against Sri Lanka, will get more playing time alongside Arshdeep Singh and Umran Malik. At some point in these three T20Is, we might see India hand the uncapped Mukesh Kumar a chance as well.

 

India likely XI: 1 Ishan Kishan (wk), 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Rahul Tripathi, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Hardik Pandya (capt), 6 Deepak Hooda, 7 Washington Sundar, 8 Shivam Mavi, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Umran Malik, 11 Arshdeep Singh

 

NEW ZEALAND

With Jimmy Neesham not around after he chose to turn down a New Zealand contract, there is a spot in the middle order for the two Michaels, Bracewell and Rippon. The former is the frontrunner after smashing a manic century in the first ODI, but Rippon – who represented Netherlands until last year – could get a game at some point in these three matches. The absence of Tim Southee (rested) and Adam Milne (injured) means chances for Henry Shipley, Ben Lister, Jacob Duffy and Black Tickner.

New Zealand likely XI: 1 Finn Allen, 2 Devon Conway (wk), 3 Mark Chapman, 4 Glenn Phillips, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Michael Bracewell, 7 Mitchell Santner (capt), 8 Henry Shipley, 9 Ish Sodhi, 10 Lockie Ferguson, 11 Blair Tickner

 

PITCH & CONDITIONS

The venue for the series opener is Ranchi, which has played host to three T20Is so far, of which was a rain-marred affair. The last T20I played there was between India and New Zealand in November 2021, and in that match, India chased a target of 154 with seven wickets and 16 deliveries remaining. Due is definitely expected to be a factor, which leads one to assume the captain who wins the toss will opt to chase. The forecast for Friday predicts a partly hazy second half, with the temperature at the 16 degrees Celsius mark when the match starts.

PREDICTION

Despite India not having four key players, back the home team to continue its dominance in white-ball cricket. New Zealand might pinch one match to make it 2-1 for Pandya’s unit.