After winning the third T20I match against New Zealand, India has secured the series with two games still to be played in the five-match T20I series. With this, Virat Kohli and co. registered the victory for the first time in the T20I series against Kiwi at their home.
Now, Indian skipper Kohli is free to experiment in the final XI for the next two games. Though post-match he made clear that his motive is to win the T20I series with 5-0. The two teams will head to play the fourth T20I match at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Friday (31st January).
New Zealand vs India 2020: 4th T20I- India’s Predicted XI
Sanju Samson:
After playing the T20I series, India will play the ODI and Test series. So, Rohit Sharma can be given rest as he will feature in ODI as well as Tests.
In place of Kohli’s deputy, the wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson can be given the chance in the final XI. Samson has played as the opener for India A and Rajasthan Royals in IPL.
2. KL Rahul:
As Shikhar Dhawan is injured, KL Rahul has been the opening partner of Rohit Sharma in the ongoing series. While he is also donning gloves for the first time in the T20I series for India. In first and second T20I matches, he scored back-to-back half-centuries leading the team to chase down the target.
3. Virat Kohli:
In the first and second T20I matches at Eden Park, Indian skipper lost his wickets early but it didn’t halt the Team India’s victory. He scored 38 runs in Hamilton and was the second-highest scorer for India in the third T20I match. Kohli will be eyeing a big knock.
4.Shreyas Iyer:
The youngster Shreyas Iyer has well-handled the pressure of the middle order. Coming at No.4, he played firing innings for India against New Zealand. Notably, he is playing the first T20I series in New Zealand.
In the first T20I match, he scored 58 runs to lead his team to victory while in the second game he stitched up 86 runs partnership with KL Rahul.
However, he could not repeat the same performance at Seddon Park when Kiwis skipper Kane Williamson asked India to bat first.
5.Manish Pandey:
Besides Iyer, Manish Pandey also set up small partnerships to led the team to the finishing point. He has remained not out in all the three games. The Karnataka player has impressively handled the pressure in the last T20Is.
6.Shivam Dube:
The allrounder Shivam Dube didn’t have good days in New Zealand. In three T20Is played, he has picked two wickets and scored 24 runs.
So, he will be given chances in further games as the sixth bowling option.
7.Washington Sundar:
Ravindra Jadeja can be rested to give the youngster Washington Sundar opportunity in the Playing XI. Sundar will be playing for the first time against New Zealand in the shorter formats.
8.Shardul Thakur:
In the recent past, pacer Thakur has been the useful lower-order batsman but he has proved too expensive. In the first T20I match, he was thrashed by Colin Munro although he went on to take the wicket of Munto at the end.
He also picked one wicket each in the 2nd and 3rd T20I matches.
9.Mohammed Shami:
The premium pacer’s contribution, in the third T20I match, is being applauded as he was the game-changer. In the last over of third T20I match, when the host needed nine runs, he picked the wicket of Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor which eventually enforced a super over. Soon after the game, Indian opener Rohit Sharma credited Shami for the victory in Hamilton.
10.Yuzvendra Chahal:
The leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal will be more effective on New Zealand pitches than Kuldeep Yadav. He has picked two wickets in three matches at an economy rate of 8.42.
11.Navdeep Saini:
As the ODI and Test series are lined up after T20I, the yorker king Jasprit Bumrah can be given rest. While pacer Navdeep Saini, who was benched for the last three T20Is, might be included in the eleven.