Team India will look to put their ICC T20 World Cup 2022 heartbreak behind them when they take on New Zealand in the first T20I in Wellington on Friday i.e. November 18, 2022 at 12 pm IST. While Hardik Pandya has been appointed T20I captain, Shikhar Dhawan will captain Team India in the 50-over format.
In the scenario where big guns such as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been rested, Suryakumar Yadav‘s impact will strengthen India’s possible during the tour. Umran Malik has been recalled after missing the last few tours.
Given that the next T20 World Cup event is two years away, India has plenty of time to discover and groom players for the same.
To meet the challenges of the present game, stand-in head coach VVS Laxman has demonstrated that the management will be eager to add only T20 specialists. Although this emphasis has transitioned to one-day internationals ahead of the World Cup next year, India would like to make the most of their T20 games as well.
For the T20I series, Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill could be the openers. Along with them, the management may also give Rishabh Pant another chance at the top of the order.
Although the Men in Blue is fielding a second-string team in New Zealand, the squad members have significant international experience.
Gill, who became well-known for his vulnerabilities in the U-19 World Cup in New Zealand four years ago, will be determined to make his T20 debut.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh might share the new ball the same way they did in Australia. Fans could also see Harshal Patel and Mohammad Siraj in action during the series.
Head-to-Head:
India has won 11 of the 21 T20I matches between the two teams, while New Zealand has won nine. One game produced no results. The very last time these two teams met was in a three-match T20I series in India in November 2021, in which the hosts won 3-0.
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