Following the comprehensive 80-run win over visitors in the opener of India vs New Zealand 2019 three-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series, the Black Caps might be in good stead, but they need to give their best by not taking the foot off from the pedal. However, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, India is looking forward to playing their A game in the penultimate Auckland ODI in a day’s time. Here we’re with the match preview.
The Team India bowlers with the ball looked off-colour in the T20I fixture at Westpac Stadium in Auckland. In between, they leaked runs which pushed the Kiwis—to gain the momentum.
If India wants to stage a comeback, the bowlers need to stem the run flow. Also, the top-order batters are supposed to a bulk of the job. It’s has been the spinner who played a significant role for India from time and time again.
On the other side, the Black Caps paceman Tim Southee has made use of his experience to deceive the visiting batters.
Moreover, the young gun like Tim Seifert has shown some promise following the failure of Martin Guptill and Colin Munro as openers in the ODI leg.
Kiwis back to the best:
The hosts have done some homework before taking on India in the 20-over format. However, in the opener, the Black Caps batsmen converted starts to put a grand total on the board. They’will be confident with the way they have risen on occasion.
India aiming to give best:
Also, Rohit is known for leaving an impact in the white-ball cricket, has all the potential to change the complexion of the game.
It would be crucial to see how Kiwis batters will take on visitors spinner, particular the wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav.
Date and Time: February 8 2019, 12:30 PM IST.
Telecast (Where to Watch): Star Sports Network (in English and Hindi) including HotStar and Jio TV.
India vs New Zealand 2019 – 2nd T20I Venue: Eden Park in Auckland:
The Eden Park stadium can host 41,000 spectators. The venue also hosts the rugby games. In 1900, Auckland authorities established where first-ever international fixture was held between New Zealand and England in February 1930.
Owing to Terraces End and Broadcasting End, Auckland has a lot on offer in the penultimate T20I.
On this particular venue, Kiwis played 17 games in which they lost nine and won six.
Moreover, it will be India’s first T20I at this venue.
Pitch Conditions:
While looking at the shortest format of the International cricket, the Eden Park surface could be staged as a trusted surface for the big-hitters.
The smaller dimensions of the ground mean bowlers would find it tough to keep batsmen quiet for a long time. However, the swinging conditions could mean miseries for a threat for the batsmen.
Thus, we could expect another high-scoring game on Kiwis shores.
Weather Conditions: The weather for Friday in Auckland is expected to be partly cloudy. However, the temperature will hover around 23 degrees, and the minimum temperature will be 18 degrees.
Moreover, the humidity is expected to be around 61 per cent with strong winds blow at 29 kph.
All in all, it will be a good atmosphere for the impending game between the Black Caps and India.
New Zealand’s Predicted Playing XI: Tim Seifert, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Daryl Mitchell, Ish Sodhi, Mitchell Santner, Scott Kullgelejin, Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson.
India’s Predicted Playing XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni, Rishabh Pant, Vijay Shankar, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Mohammed Siraj.
Match Prediction:
Going by the way teams are stacked-up, it would highly-likely emerge as a high-scoring thriller. However, hosts have a grand chance to spoil visitors party. But India could possibly eke out a close win to level the series.
India vs New Zealand 2019: Auckland, Match Preview – Stats to achieve:
Rohit Sharma is 35 runs away to become leading run-scorer in the T20 cricket. Concurrently, Martin Guptill tops the chart with the tally of 2272 runs.
Interestingly, Rohit is two sixes away to become first-ever India batters to record hundred sixes in T20I. Also, he is closing in to be third overall batsman after Chris Gayle (103) and Guptill (103).
India has registered only two T20 wins against the Black Caps. Kiwis’ team is the only side against which India has the ratio of more losses than victories in the shortest version of the game.
In August 2016, India lost the T20I series against the Windies in Florida owing to a minimum of two fixtures.
In T20Is, Rohit is just a half-century away to eclipse regular skipper Virat Kohli in terms of most number of fifty-plus scores. So far, the duo slammed 19 fifty-plus totals.