India vs New Zealand 2023, 1st T20I – Match Prediction

After convincingly winning the ODI series by 3-0, India will face New Zealand in the three-match T20I series, with the first game to be played at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi on Friday. India had clinched the T20I series against Sri Lanka by 2-1 but New Zealand will give them a tougher challenge.

New Zealand, on the other hand, were totally dominated in the ODI series and they will be looking to come up with a better performance. The Kiwis could not come up with a collective batting performance in the ODI series and they will be hoping to turn the tables.

It will be almost the same Indian team that had played against Sri Lanka, with big names – Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul missing. Hardik Pandya will continue to lead the T20I team and he will look to keep his win streak going.

Ruturaj Gaikwad has been ruled out of the series with a wrist injury but no replacement has been announced by the Indian board. Pandya has confirmed that Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan will open the innings. Thus, Prithvi Shaw will have to wait for his opportunity.

Meanwhile, Mitchell Santner will lead New Zealand in the series. Players like Mark Chapman, Dane Cleaver, Ben Lister, and Michael Lister will look to take their chances at the top level for the Kiwis.

Squads

India: Hardik Pandya (c), Suryakumar Yadav (vc), Ishan Kishan (wk), Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Prithvi Shaw, Mukesh Kumar.

New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Dane Cleaver (wk), Devon Conway (wk), Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Ben Lister, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rippon, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner