Indian Team

Team India’s new year started on a high after back to back series wins over Sri Lanka(T20I) and Australia (ODI). The men in blue looks a settled unit. In Rohit and Rahul they have reigned openers carrying loads of experience with Kohli, Iyer and Pandey at 3,4 and 5. The batting unit looks well settled. Going by Kohli’s words on the eve of the First T20I, Rahul is all set to dawn the keeping gloves, so it gives India the sheild of playing an extra batsman or an all-rounder. So, that it also makes the strong case for Shivam Dubey to play at 6. Talking about the bowling options the spin duo of Jadeja and Kuldeep looks all-set to play with Jasprit Bumrah, Navdeep Saini and Mohammad Shami to complete the power pack pace attack.

 

Probable XI

Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul (wk), Virat Kohli (c), Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar/Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav/Yuzvendra Chahal, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah

Live Score with Ball by Ball Commentary

New Zealand Team

New Zealand have been coming from a bad tour of Australia and will be looking to shake-off the losing streak and will be looking to find some form against India. Hosts are currently haunted by multiple injuries with the likes of Tom Latham, Trent Boult, Matt Henry, Adam Milne and Lockie Ferguson set to miss the whole T20I series. But with the presence of skipper Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and Tim Southee hosts still looks formidable and will be looking to fancy their against the men in blue.
Tom Seifert and Glenn Phillips will be looking to make the most of the opportunity. Santner will be looking to come back into form after the failure against Aussies which led him lost him place for the final Test. The NZ team in spite of injuries looks well balanced.

Probable XI

Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Tim Seifert (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Daryl Mitchell/Scott Kuggeleijn, Mitchell Santner/Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Hamish Bennett, Blair Tickner

Head To Head

Pitch

The pitch at Eden Park looks a heaven for batters but it will give a bit of assistance to the fast bowlers at the start. The ground dimension at quite different with shorter boundaries at the straight but longer at at the side so playing with straight bat would be the key for power stroke.

Predictions

Although New Zealand side is playing at its home conditions but given the experience and balance if of Indian Team. The men in blue are all set to win the 1st T20I. Win toss and field first will be the game plan for both the captains. However with deep Bumrah Indian team need not to worry if they bat first as well.

By Devansh Awasthi

Business Head and Editor-in chief A Software Developer with an MNC, started it all in the summers of 2016 just & just to propagate the game of Cricket. Also a Certified Sports Management Consultant and Cricket Analyst. His passion for Cricket is not hidden only from those knowing him personally but also virtually. His love for the game started from Gullies of Lucknow and wishes to see a future of it in an Office of Cricketkeeda Sports. He brings to the brand the experience and knowledge of Cricket and other sports as well, a person who knows everything about every game ever played in the history of Cricket. Ping him on Social Media or Mail at devanshawasthi4@gmail.com for anything post fix Cricket. - Host of Cricketkeeda Sports YouTube Handle - Editor-in-Chief