India v New Zealand, 1st T20 - Match Result Predictions

New Zealand’s long tour of India is in its last chapter, with the 3-match T20I series all set to kick off at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, New Delhi tomorrow. Although the hosts clinched both the Test and the ODI series comfortably, the T20 games are likely to be more closely contested. The Kiwis will be hungry to salvage pride by proving their mettle in the shortest format of the game from the get-go, while India will look to continue their winning streak.

Here is what CricTracker predicts for the game:

Scenario 1: India wins the toss.

Toss Prediction: India will choose to bowl first.

First innings score prediction: 170-180

Result prediction: India will win the match by 4 wickets.

Scenario 2: New Zealand wins the toss.

Toss Prediction: New Zealand will choose to bowl first.

First innings score prediction: 190-200

Result prediction: India will win the match by 10-20 runs

As we’ve witnessed in the numerous games of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Feroz Shah Kotla is typically a small ground, with shorter boundaries and tends to offer high-scoring games. The first T20 between India and New Zealand is likely to follow a similar pattern and be a run-feast.

Head to Head Record

Total matches played – 5, India Won – 0, New Zealand Won – 5, No Result/ Tied – 0

The battle is guaranteed to be a tough one as the Kiwis have never lost a single T20 game against Indian till date. Be it the India Tour of New Zealand back in 2009 or the World T20 game between the two teams at Nagpur in 2016, the Black Caps have always enjoyed an upper hand in the shortest format of the game against the Men in Blue. It’ll take a special effort from Virat Kohli and his boys to dismantle the Kane Williamson-led side from the coveted unbeaten position that they hold.

Playing Combinations

New Zealand

The Kiwis will go into the match with measured aggression and a burning desire to bring the T20 title home. In order to embark on winning ways from the very beginning, Kane Williamson will have to get his team combination just right. The batting is most likely to be lead by mainstays Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Ross Taylor and the captain, Williamson.

Tom Latham is the obvious choice for the position of wicketkeeper-batsman and he’ll look to extend his phenomenal performance from the ODI series. Left-handed batsman, Henry Nicholls can be expected to round up the batting. The all-rounding duties are most likely to be taken up by Colin de Grandhomme, followed by the lethal pace pair in the form of Trent Boult and Tim Southee. The team can be expected to be completed by spinners, Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi, giving the line-up a good balance.

Predicted XI:  Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson (C), Colin Munro, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wk), Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi.

India

Virat Kohli has a fondness for playing with the winning combination and hence, it’s unlikely that the team combination will be tinkered with too much. The top order is most likely to be a mirror-image of that of the ODI squad, featuring swashbuckling openers, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan, followed by the skipper himself and Dinesh Karthik.

Manish Pandey can be expected to find a spot in the side, owing to his commendable skills as a T20 batsman, followed by the perpetual finisher for the Indian side in the form of MS Dhoni. Hardik Pandya will shoulder the responsibilities of serving as the all-rounder for the team. The bowling attack can comprise Axar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal as the spin duo, while pacer Jasprit Bumrah is most likely to be aided by the veteran pacer, Ashish Nehra, who will be retiring post the conclusion of the first T20 game of the series.

Predicted XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (C), Dinesh Karthik, Manish Pandey, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashish Nehra, Yuzvendra Chahal.

The prediction is for India to start the proceedings on a winning note and gain a 1-0 lead in the first game.

Do let us know your predictions in the comments section below.