New Zealand tour of India

IND vs NZ, 2nd T20

Preview: 

The second T20I match of the three-match T20I series between India and New Zealand (IND vs NZ) will take place on Sunday (January 29) at 07:00 PM IST Live. The second match of the three-match T20 series between both sides will be played at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. It will be a 'do or die' match for Hosts India. In fact, in the first match of this series, the Indian team was defeated by New Zealand by 21 runs to save the series, it's a must-win game for team India in Lucknow on Sunday.

In this T20 series, Batting first, New Zealand scored 176 runs thanks to half-centuries from Devon Conway (52) and Daryl Mitchell (59). In response, the Indian team could score only 155 runs till the full quota. In this way, the Kiwis have taken a 1-0 lead in the 3-match T20I series.

Despite the defeat in the first match, the all-rounder Washington Sundar's performance was a positive aspect for India. Apart from bowling economically, he also scored 50 runs in 28 balls while batting at number six. He also took a brilliant catch in the match. However, he did not get the support of anyone else in this match to help team India in crossing the line.

India's bowling in the first T20 disappointed their fans a lot. The left-arm Fast bowler Arshdeep Singh and the speedster Umran Malik started to leak runs as soon as they came to bowl for team India. In the last over of the innings, Arshdeep leaked 27 runs. This was the reason that the target of the Kiwi team went beyond 170. This put pressure on the Indian team which came out to chase the target. Despite this, it does not seem that Captain Pandya will give a chance to fast bowler Mukesh Kumar to debut. He can give Arshdeep a chance to make a comeback.

The opening batter Shubman Gill was in excellent form in ODIs but he could not maintain it in T20s. Apart from this, the biggest concern for the team is the form of Ishan Kishan and Deepak Hooda. The left-handed batter Kishan had scored a double century in ODIs against Bangladesh in December last year but after that, he could not maintain this form.

The wicket-keeper batter, coming down as an opener, has played innings of 37, 2, 1, 5, 8, 17 and 4 runs after that. The right-handed all-rounder Hooda has also not been able to achieve much success as a power hitter. He averages only 17.88 in the last 13 innings. Meanwhile, his highest score was 41 not out against Sri Lanka in Mumbai. Despite this, Jitesh Sharma is unlikely to be brought in as a wicket-keeper batter in the middle order for team India.

As far as the Visitors are concerned, NZ will leave no stone unturned to win the series in India this time as they just need one match out of 2 matches to win the series. NZ has a chance to avenge the ODI series where the Black Caps were defeated 3-0. The side will once again be heavily dependent on Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell. NZ would not like to change their winning combination.

Match Details

Match: IND vs NZ, 2nd T20, New Zealand tour of India, 2023

Date: Sunday, January 29th, 2023

Time: 07:00 PM (Jan 29)

Venue: Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow

Pitch Report: 

So far 5 T20 International matches have been played at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The team batting first has won the most number of matches at this venue. All these victories have been somewhat one-sided. The team batting first on this wicket has been getting more help. However, in the second innings at night, the ones can trouble the bowlers. In such a situation, it will not be easy for the captain to take any decision after winning the toss. 

India and New Zealand will clash at the BRSABV Ekana Stadium Stadium for the first time, but Men in Blue are unbeaten in two at the venue, beating WI in 2018 and SL last year.

The maximum temperature will remain at 22°C, with a low of 11°C with 59% humidity, and a cool wind speed of 5 Km/hr for the second T20I on Sunday between India and New Zealand. The weather in Lucknow 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: Ishan Kishan(w), Shubman Gill, Rahul Tripathi, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya(c), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Shivam Mavi, Kuldeep Yadav, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh

NZ: Finn Allen, Devon Conway(w), Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner(c), Michael Bracewell, Jacob Duffy, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Blair Tickner

Match Prediction:

There have been 23 T20Is played between IND and NZ – 12 have been won by the Hosts, while 10 have been clinched by the NZ. One match ended in a tie. In the last 5 T20Is between these two sides, India has won 3, while one match was a tie and one was won by NZ. 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 Black Caps out of the equation after they won the first T20I match against the Hosts. And if some of their batters like Devon Conway or Glenn Phillips click, then they will be hard to stop and will take a 2-0 lead in the series. 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 Sunday and level the series 1-1.

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