Team India continued their winning run even in the T20I series as they started off the three-match series against the Kiwis with a convincing 53 runs win at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi to take a 1-0 lead in the series. It was an exceptional batting performance by Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan which was backed up by some power hitting by Vira Kohli and MS Dhoni towards the end to propel India to a score beyond 200 runs.
It was also Ashish Nehra’s last international game, and the result was a fitting end to an inspiring career of the pacer. In the bowling department, it was Yuzvendra Chahal and Axar Patel who eaved their magic and bagged a couple of wickets each. It was a brilliant display of attacking bowling by the duo as they never allowed the Kiwis to force their way into the match.
From there on it was a downward slide as they eventually lost by 53 runs. India has been very consistent in all three formats of the game in the recent past and will look to seal yet another series when the two teams take the field for the 2nd T20I tomorrow at Rajkot. The team combination is expected to change a bit for both the teams.
Team News
India
The home team is unlikely to tinker with their winning combination. One obvious change from the first encounter will be Ashish Nehra as the left-arm pacer played his final international match in Delhi. The batting department has risen to the occasion as both openers Rohit Sharma, and Shikhar Dhawan shared a spectacular 158 runs partnership for the opening wicket to set India a foundation to go beyond the 200 mark.
India had as many as six available bowling actions in Delhi, and they might be tempted to bring back extra batsmen in favor of Ashish Nehra. The possibility of Mohammad Siraj making his international debut is also on the cards if India wants to play the similar sort of combination. Kuldeep Yadav has been pretty unlucky as Axar Patel has been preferred ahead of him due to his ability to contain the batsman.
Predicted XI of Indian Cricket Team: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, MS Dhoni, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj
New Zealand
The Kiwis played ordinary cricket in Delhi and was never in the game. It was a lackluster bowling performance by the pacers despite the fact that the spinners bowled well. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan tormented them with their strokeplay as they ended up conceding 202. Chasing a big total, the Kiwis were never in the game losing wickets at crucial junctures of the game.
Martin Guptill is going through a lean patch in this tour and will look to announce his arrival with a big knock in the must-win encounter for the Black Caps. Ross Taylor is expected to be back for the 2nd T20I at the expense of Tom Bruce. The rest of the team is expected to remain the same.
Predicted XI of New Zealand cricket team: Colin Munro, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Trent Boult
Match Prediction
Given India’s terrific run there is no doubt about the fact that they will start as favourites for tomorrow but there is a gut feeling that New Zealand might force their way back into the series especially after impressive performances in the ODI series.