New Zealand vs India, 2020 – 5th T20I match preview, predicted lineups
BCCI [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
India will take on New Zealand tomorrow in the fifth and final T20I of the series. Team India start this game as the favourites.
Date and Time : 2nd February 2020, 12:30 PM IST
Venue : Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
Team India have been dominant on this tour so far and they will look to keep on pushing for wins as they are 4-0 up.
The batting looked little bit off colour on Friday but bowlers did the job. But for the fifth game a complete performance will be needed for a whitewash.
The wicket in Tauranga support batting so Indian batters should score runs. While spin is also effective, then Indian spinners come into play.
Overall a confident showing tomorrow will create history at The Black Caps own backyard. Good luck to the team.
On the other hand, New Zealand have been very disappointing with their performances at home. They are a much better side than this.
Loosing two successive games in a super-over shows their naiveness in the format. They must skill up.
For tomorrows match they need to win as if they don’t then it’s a real shameful record.
The Black Caps have a good record at the venue and know the conditions better so they have a chance even against this firing Indian team.
Team news and possible lineups
Kane Williamson is available for New Zealand for the weekend fixture and will likely play.
As for Team India, they might rest skipper Virat Kohli and get Rohit Sharma back in. While Rishabh Pant is also available and might play.
New Zealand XI : Guptill, Munro, Williamson (C), Seifert (WK), Bruce, R. Taylor, Santner, Southee, I. Sodhi, H. Bennett, Kuggeleijn.
India XI : Kohli/R. Sharma (C), KL Rahul (WK), S. Samson, Iyer, S. Dube/Pant, M. Pandey, Sundar, S. Thakur, Chahal, Shami, Saini.
Prediction
I expect India to win this game and make it 5-0.
