India vs New Zealand, 2020 – 1st T20I match preview, predicted lineups
BCCI [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
India will take on New Zealand in the first T20I of the five match series as they begin their tour of New Zealand. Team India start this game as the favourites.
Date and Time : 24th January 2020, 12:20 PM IST
Venue : Eden Park, Auckland
Team India are fresh from a good home season with victories over teams like Australia, Sri Lanka and West Indies but an overseas tour always possess a different challenge.
It’s a kiwi challenge and it has always been a tough tour for the Indians. The conditions are very different from the subcontinent. It will be a good test to gauge the progress of Indian cricket.
For the first match, they would like a winning start and if they bat first then they need to ensure some good runs for the main batters. While in bowling, India have come on lot ahead in terms of options and quality.
India played a game last year in Auckland and won while chasing, so good memories of the track and a know-how of the wicket.
On the other hand, New Zealand have been playing some good cricket post 2019 World Cup especially at home barring a recent away Australian drubbing. So they will be confident for India series.
The Black Caps know how to use the conditions to their advantage against India at home. They will make it tough for Virat and co.
For the first game, New Zealand will look to make a great start to the five game T20I series as they prepare for the World Cup later in the year.
The conditions they will know well and would like to bat first if win the toss as they have good balance in their side.
India have a poor record in T20I’s against New Zealand and they will like to improve it on this tour.
Team news and possible lineups
Blair Tickner is available for New Zealand for the first T20I and might play.
As for Team India, Washington Sundar is available and will likely play.
New Zealand XI : K. Williamson (C), Guptill, C. Munro, T. Seifert (WK), R. Taylor, C. de Grandhomme, D. Mitchell, Santner, Southee, S. Kuggeleijn, I. Sodhi.
India XI : V. Kohli (C), KL Rahul, R. Sharma, Iyer, M. Pandey, Pant (WK), R. Jadeja, W. Sundar, Shami, Bumrah, Saini.
Prediction
It’s a tough call, predicting winner of this one. The team which uses the conditions well on the day might end up winning.
