New Zealand tour of India

IND vs NZ, 1st T20

Preview: 

The first T20I match of the three-match T20I series between India and New Zealand (IND vs NZ) will take place on Friday (January 27) at 07:00 PM IST Live. The first T20I match of the series will be played at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi. Rohit Sharma-led team India whitewashed the Black Caps 3-0 in the ODI series.

Now, the two teams will gear up for the three-match T20I series beginning Friday in Ranchi. The Black Caps have never beaten India at home in a T20I series. With many of the home side’s regulars not featuring in the series, the Visitors might fancy their chances for the shortest format. However, Men in Blue is always a formidable opponent at home and will start as favourites for the series.

Team India will have plenty of fresh faces for the T20 series while ODI regulars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been rested for the 3-match T20I series. All-rounder Hardik Pandya, who has been in excellent form with the bat and ball, will again lead the T20 side against NZ. 

The right-handed destructive batter Prithvi Shaw has been selected to play for India after more than one and a half years against NZ. The 23-year-old Shaw has been in incredible form in domestic cricket and is likely to be given a chance. The number one T20I batter Suryakumar Yadav will, of course, be the batter to watch out for India. Surya has been one of the best T20 batters in the world and slammed a breathtaking 112* off 67 balls against Lankan Lions only earlier this month. 

The middle-order batter Rahul Tripathi may have played just two T20I matches for India, but he’s shown he can be an enforcer at No.3. All-rounder Deepak Hooda gets another opportunity to prove his worth as a finisher.

India’s seam bowling department will largely revolve around left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh (14 wickets in the last 9 matches at an economy of 8.93), the speedster Umran Malik (7 wickets in the last 3 T20Is at an economy of 9.63), and Hardik Pandya (7 wickets in last 10 matches at 7.43). 

Skipper Pandya has done well with the new ball this season and is expected to bowl at least 2-3 overs at the start. Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav has been in terrific form of late. The left-arm chinaman has picked up 11 wickets in the 5 ODIs he has played this year in India and has regularly troubled the batters. Tackling him will be a change for the Kiwi batters.

NZ's tour of India hasn’t gone according to plan so far. After being blanked out in the ODI series, the Kiwis now have the opportunity to make amends in the shortest international format. They have the right players to do the job too.

The opening batter for NZ, Finn Allen managed only 40 runs in the ODI series versus India, but he’s a dangerous T20 batter and should do better here. Allen has scored 1 hundred and 2 fifties in T20Is in 25 innings at a strike rate of 163.40. The left-handed batter Devon Conway, who scored a wonderful 138 off 100 balls in the 3rd ODI against team India, will be looking to carry over his form to the T20Is. Conway has the experience of playing on these pitches thanks to the Indian T20 League and will be New Zealand’s batting mainstay. 

Another batter to keep an eye out for is Glenn Phillips. He is a powerful hard-hitter who has collected 356 runs in the last 10 matches at an average of 39.56 and a strike rate of 167.92. 

In the absence of experienced fast bowlers like Trent Boult and Tim Southee, NZ will be relying on Lockie Ferguson to deliver the goods. The right-arm fast bowler can bowl regularly over 140 km/ph and has picked up 41 wickets in 28 T20I matches at an economy of 7.36. 

Skipper and left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner (11 wickets in the last 8 matches at an economy of 6.71) will be handy on these surfaces with his left-arm spin. On the other hand, Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi (10 wickets in the last 10 matches at an economy of 7.79) will also be crucial to NZ's chances as he can pick up crucial wickets in the middle overs.

Match Details

Match: IND vs NZ, 1st T20, New Zealand tour of India, 2023

Date: Friday, January 27th, 2023

Time: 07:00 PM (Jan 27)

Venue: JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi

Pitch Report: 

The pitch at the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi is slow and dry. Spinners are likely to get some turns and bounce off the surface while seamers might get some early movement in the second half of the game. However, batters will enjoy facing pacers rather than spinners here.

The average score batting first at this venue in Ranchi is 156. The JSCA International Stadium Complex last hosted a T20I in November 2021 between India and New Zealand. Batting first, NZ posted 153-6 on the board, and Men in Blue chased the target down in 17.2 overs with 7 wickets remaining. This is unlikely to be a high-scoring match, and the team batting first should look to set a target of around 170-180 runs. There have been 3 T20Is played at this venue, 2 of which have been won by the team batting second. The team winning the toss in this match is likely to field first.

The maximum temperature will remain at 27°C, with a low of 14°C with 59% humidity, and a cool wind speed of 13 Km/hr for the first T20I on Friday between India and New Zealand. The weather in Ranchi during the match will be cool and pleasant for the match day. Both the day of the game and the days leading up to it have no possibility of rain. Therefore, the weather won’t interfere with the game.

IND vs NZ Squads:

IND: Hardik Pandya (Captain), Suryakumar Yadav (vice-captain), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, 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

NZ: Mitchell Santner (C), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Dane Cleaver, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Ben Lister, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rippon, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner.

Probable Playing XI

IND: Prithvi Shaw/ Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan (wk), Rahul Tripathi, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (c), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Shivam Mavi, Kuldeep Yadav, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh

NZ: Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Lockie Ferguson, Henry Shipley, Blair Tickner, Ish Sodhi.

Match Prediction:

There have been 22 T20Is played between IND and NZ – 12 have been won by the Hosts, while 9 have been clinched by the NZ. One match ended in a tie. In the last 5 T20Is between these two sides, India has won 4, while one match was a tie. Men in Blue will start as favourites for this clash as they are the home side and are in some great limited-overs form right now. But we can never count the Kiwis out, and if some of their batters like Devon Conway or Glenn Phillips click, then they will be hard to stop. The Hosts, however, appear to have better balance and depth for these conditions and should prevail in this contest. We say India to win this match on Friday.

Suggested Playing XI Real11 Fantasy Cricket