India’s final phase of preparation for the T20 World Cup begins with a three-match series against New Zealand, starting Friday in Nagpur. With Virat Kohli rested, all eyes are on stand-in captain Rohit Sharma and middle-order batter Suryakumar Yadav to deliver.
Key Details: IND vs NZ 1st T20I
- Date & Venue: Friday, January 21, at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur.
- Captains: Rohit Sharma leads India; Kane Williamson captains New Zealand.
- Context: First white-ball series for both teams in 2022, serving as crucial prep for the T20 World Cup in Australia.
India enters the contest with confidence, having whitewashed the Black Caps 3-0 in their last T20I meeting in November 2021. New Zealand, however, will be eager to start the new year with a victory and reverse that result.
Predicted Playing XIs
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah.
New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson (c), Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert (wk), James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson.
Pitch and Weather Conditions
The Nagpur pitch is typically batting-friendly, offering good bounce for strokeplay. As the game progresses, spinners from both sides could come into play.
Fans can expect perfect cricket weather: clear, sunny skies with temperatures around 25°C and no rain forecast.
How to Watch
The match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network. Live streaming will be available on the Disney+ Hotstar app and website.
