India v New Zealand, 3rd T20I- New Zealand Predicted XI

The T20 International series between India and New Zealand has been an exciting one thus far. Both the teams have fought tooth and nail to get the better of each other. The first T20I at the Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi was comprehensively clinched by India. New Zealand stormed back to humble them by 40 runs at Rajkot on the back of awe-inspiring performances by Colin Munro and Trent Boult.

The series now hangs in the balance and both the teams will be looking to win the final game at Thiruvananthapuram and therefore win the series. In their erstwhile game, New Zealand played brilliantly and most of their players chipped in with useful performances. The top order looked solid and the batsman thereafter played useful cameos.

While defending, the spinners were able to put a lid on the scoring. Adam Milne, who replaced Tim Southee, also bowled with speed and venom. With all to play for, let’s find out the potential combination of the Kiwis in the third T20 International. Here is the New Zealand Predicted XI for the match:

Openers (Martin Guptill, Colin Munro)

Lately, Martin Guptill hasn’t quite been in the best of forms as he has struggled to get himself going. In the One Day Series against India, he got starts, but couldn’t convert them into big scores. He was dismissed cheaply in the first T20 International as well.

However, he came back and played a decent hand in the second game at Rajkot. He was able to find some rhythm, which hold him in good stead, going into the third T20.

Colin Munro is renowned for playing fearless cricket and taking on the opposition bowlers. It showed off during the third ODI at Kanpur as he went hammer and tongs right from ball one. He fell early in the first T20, but made amends with a swashbuckling ton at Rajkot.

On a batting paradise, Munro took the Indian bowlers to the cleaners and notched up his second T20 ton of the year. In order for the Black Caps to win the third T20 and the series, Munro has to replicate the same form.

Middle Order (Kane Williamson (C), Tom Bruce, Tom Latham (wk), Henry Nicholls, 

Kane Williamson isn’t intimidating, yet a useful cricketer in limited overs cricket. However, he has had an average tour of India thus far. Apart from the 64 in Kanpur, he hasn’t been able to get a substantial score under his belt.

He also hasn’t performed in the first couple of T20Is in Delhi and Rajkot respectively. If either of Guptill and Munro gets out cheaply in Thiruvananthapuram, then the onus will be on Williamson to shepherd the Black Caps to a respectable score.

Tom Bruce was drafted into the New Zealand T20 squad on account of being a powerful hitter of the ball. Axar Patel got rid of him early in Delhi, but Bruce chipped in with a handy knock of 18 runs in 12 in Rajkot to give the finishing kick to the New Zealand innings.

He has an overall strike-rate of 150 in T20s, which exemplifies his potential with the bat. If he bats for a major part of 20 overs, then New Zealand might set another daunting task for India in the decider.

Tom Latham played a match-winning hand in Mumbai to take the Kiwis over the finishing line. He backed it up with a couple of handy knocks in Pune and Kanpur. Even in the opening T20, he scored 39 runs, but was dropped for the second game.

Youngster Glenn Phillips replaced him in the team at Rajkot. However, in the all-important series decider, New Zealand will be better off if Latham is brought back in the squad on account of being the experienced campaigner.

In New Zealand’s ongoing tour against India, Henry Nicholls has displayed his ability to hit the long ball. He also showed consistency and most importantly, skills to score runs in crunch moments of a game. His cameo of 37 runs, almost took the Kiwis over the finishing line at Kanpur.

He hasn’t had much to do in the first couple of T20 Internationals, but might be required to bat if New Zealand lose some wickets upfront in the third game.

All-Rounder (Colin de Grandhomme)

Apart from his useful knock of 41 in Pune, Colin de Grandhomme, the Kiwi all-rounder, hasn’t been up to  the mark thus far. Even with the ball, he has only picked up the solitary wicket of Virat Kohli in the second ODI.

He got out for a duck in Delhi and conceded runs at an economy of 11, which aren’t great figures for a genuine all-rounder. Kane Williamson and co will be hoping for Grandhomme to find some form in the final game of the tour.

Bowlers (Mitchell Santner, Trent Boult, Adam Milne, Ish Sodhi)

Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner has been in great touch for New Zealand in their tour of India. He has been wily and hasn’t allowed the Indian batsmen to take him for runs. After picking up 4 wickets in the ODI series, the all-rounder has also impressed in the T20 fixtures.

While the other New Zealand bowlers were taken apart on a flat-wicket in Delhi, Santner chipped in with a spell of 4-0-30-0 on a difficult wicket to bowl. Even in Rajkot, he was able to keep the Indian batsmen quiet and also picked up Virat Kohli’s wicket.

Trent Boult has gone through mixed emotions during New Zealand’s current tour against the sub-continent giant. He rattled India with a four-wicket haul in Mumbai, but couldn’t hold on to his form as he was carted across the park in Pune and Kanpur.

In the first T20 at Delhi, he conceded 49 runs, but came back with a spell of 4/34 in Rajkot, which broke the backbone of the Indian batting lineup. The fast-bowler is expected to hold the key with the ball in the third and final T20.

Adam Milne bowled well on flat batting wickets in the One Day Internationals. Nevertheless, he was dropped from the New Zealand team for the opening T20 at the Feroz Shah Kotla. However, he went on to replace Tim Southee for the second T20 International.

On a bowler’s graveyard at Rajkot, Milne managed ensured that India didn’t run away with the game with a spell of 4-0-30-0. The New Zealand management is most likely to stick with him, going into the final game.

Leg-spinners might be taken for runs, but they can turn out to be trump-cards for a team. Ish Sodhi didn’t play the ODIs against India, but was selected to accompany Mitchell Santner in the spin-bowling department.

In his two outings against at Delhi and Rajkot, Sodhi was outstanding with the ball with 3 wickets at a frugal economy of 6.25. The Ludhiana-born leg-spinner needs to bring all his skills to fore if New Zealand are to topple India in the decider.