IND v NZL, 2nd T20I Preview: India aim their first T20I series triumph against the Blackcaps

The records suggested India will be up for a tough night on Wednesday, but as it turned out, they ran through their counterparts with ease. Veteran Ashish Nehra’s farewell was just an icing on the cake for what was a memorable outing for the hosts. Things don’t get that easy every time, especially when your opponents are the highly-spirited New Zealanders.

Kane Williamson’s troops were absolutely horrendous in the outfield, grassing a lot of big chances. Some world class fielders like Martin Guptill, Tim Southee, and Mitchell Santner too dropped catches and their skipper was left helpless. In a game where the hosts had to deal with a plethora of emotions, the Kiwis only made their job easier with their lackluster performance.

Nevertheless, the Indian side went with 6 full-time bowlers in the first game, a ploy that worked wonderfully well. Henceforth, a debut is definitely on cards for the lanky Hyderabadi pacer Mohammad Siraj, who might be replacing Ashish Nehra in the XI with the rest remaining the same. Another middle-order batsman would be a good choice, but this combination looks lethal with 4 bowlers and 2 scintillating all-rounders.

Toss: New Zealand have won the toss and have opted to bat

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli(c), MS Dhoni(w), Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj

New Zealand (Playing XI): Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson(c), Tom Bruce, Glenn Phillips(w), Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult

Focus will be on

Bhuvneshwar Kumar (India)

Colin Munro took on Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the final ODI and clobbered him to all parts. But the fast bowler got his vengeance when he cleaned him up with a breathtaking yorker in the first T20I. He is definitely one of the best bowlers in the world across all formats currently and is using every opportunity to seal his place in the 2019 World Cup side. His performances have earned him a flurry of compliments and every time he’s stepping up, people expect him to take a wicket.

Martin Guptill (New Zealand)

If New Zealand needs anyone desperately in this hour, it’s their swashbuckling opener, Martin Guptill. Whilst he has been struggling off-late to notch a big score, Guptill will always remain a pivotal part of the Blackcaps. It’s weird that he has failed to convert few good starts into decent scores, but going by his past record and his sensational ability to win games on his own, Williamson will be pinning his hopes on the senior player.

Playing combinations

India

With Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma establishing a record-breaking partnership in the first T20, all eyes will be on them at Rajkot. Virat Kohli came in as a finisher and did a decent job, spanking three big sixes. The middle-order will have 3 big batsmen in Shreyas Iyer, MS Dhoni, and Hardik Pandya, followed by Axar Patel, who is more of a bowling all-rounder.

Once again, the Indian side is expected to enter the battlefield with three primetime fast bowlers. Mohammad Siraj is highly likely to get a chance in the next game, alongside his Sunrisers teammate Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah. With Chahal and Axar Patel managing the spin department, Pandya will remain as the sixth bowler in the side.

New Zealand

Martin Guptill will embark the innings alongside the dashing Colin Munro, who has had a mixed series thus far. With Kane Williamson all set to come at number 3, Tom Bruce will be handed another opportunity to prove his worth. Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme, and Mitchell Santner will be following next in the middle.

The part-timers Colin de Grandhomme and Colin Munro were taken for a lot of runs in the first game. Trent Boult and Tim Southee got clobbered to all parts but the only sigh of relief for the skipper was during Ish Sodhi and Santner’s overs. The skipper will be expecting his spinners to continue his purple patch whilst a lot better is expected from the premium fast bowlers.

StatAttack

12 – Virat Kohli needs 12 more runs to overtake Tillakaratne Dilshan as the highest wicket-taker in the series.

3 – Yuzvendra Chahal needs three wickets to become the joint-highest wicket-taker of the year 2017. in 2017.

2 – This is the second T20I being played at Rajkot.