Jaipur: India after experiencing the harsh reality of competitiveness at the T20 World Cup 2021, India will look for revamped start as they take on New Zealand in a three-match T20 series starting from November 17 in Jaipur.
The campaign will be curtain raiser of the new era under head coach Rahul Dravid. While after Virat Kohli stepping down from the captaincy, this will be a test for the new skipper Rohit Sharma as well.
The new coach-captain duo will look to build a competitive squad keeping the Australian conditions in the mind as this year’s champions will host the T20 World Cup in less than 12 months time with India having a lot of weak areas to cover.
The absences of Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah means, the hosts will have added challenges in both batting and bowling against the tricky Kiwis. KL Rahul will most likely open with Rohit while Ishan Kishan might squeeze in that no.3 spot although Ruturaj Gaikwad might also get the opening slot with Rahul coming in at no.3.
Venkatesh Iyer might get his break to enter the XI as an all-rounder with Hardik Pandya, after a dismal performace at the world cup getting excluded from the squad. India’s middle order is a major concern which Dravid and co. will look to solve.
Bhuvaneshwar Kumar who was off the track in Dubai will look to maximize his chances in this series while Mohammad Siraj could come into the side in place of Bumrah. Axar Patel could also enter the XI with the absence Ravindra Jadeja with Gurjarat lad having the same trait as his senior.
New Zealand will also like to look forward after their loss to Australia in the final the T20 World Cup in Dubai although their campaign has been quite superb and also they were the side that potentially ended India’s chance to progess through to the knock out beating them convincingly.
As per reports, Kane Williamson has been given rest with frontline seamer Tim Southee getting the responsibility to lead the Blackcaps who have been the nemesis to the Indians at the recent few ICC tournaments. Daryl Mitchell and Trent Boult both are fit to play with the later looking to show his prowess against the right-handers when the series starts. Leg spinner Ish Sodhi who got some clobbering in the final by the Aussie batters will also look to bring his grove back against a side which he will probably relish.Jimmy Neesham will be a vital cog as well with his all-round abilities in the shortest format.
India squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), KL Rahul, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan, Venkatesh Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Avesh Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Harshal Patel, Mohammad Siraj
New Zealand squad: Tim Southee (captain), Todd Astle, Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi
