India and New Zealand are ready to face each other in the first match of the 5-match T20 series at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur on Wednesday, January 21. This match is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM IST. Stay tuned with our IND vs NZ prediction, team preview, pitch report, player stats and winner prediction ahead of this exciting contest.
India’s disappointing performance continued on their home soil, it seemed that they would win the ODI series one-sidedly but that was not possible. Apart from Virat Kohli, other Indian players didn’t perform well, for which they had to pay the price by losing the ODI series 2-1. Now the team of young Indian talent players, led by Suryakumar Yadav, is eager to perform brilliantly in this 5-match T20 series.
On the other hand, New Zealand has put up a brilliant performance on their tour of India. At one point, it seemed that they were a weak team, but they defeated India badly in the ODI series, proving that they have come with the best 11 and how much talent their young players have, which are capable of defeating a team of superstar players.
Head-to-Head Record: Till now, a total of 25 T20 matches have been played between these two sides, in which India performed outstandingly and won 14 games, while New Zealand has won 10. Moreover, India performed well in the recent past; they won three of the last five head-to-head games and New Zealand won just once.
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India Preview
The Indian team certainly looks strong against New Zealand, but the way Team India has performed in the ODI series clearly shows how poor their form has been. However, the T20 series will see more young players with both talent and experience who can perform well under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav.
In batting, Sharma has been playing brilliantly in the top order. The kind of starts he has given to Team India in the recent past, he certainly has the ability to help India score big and take them forward. Apart from this, he has also scored 271 runs in the last 10 matches at a strike rate of above 163. Apart from him, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer and Hardik Pandya are the batsmen who have the ability to turn the match in India’s favour at any time.
In bowling, the team will be led by Jasprit Bumrah, who has been successful in making India win since the last few years. Moreover, he has taken nine wickets in the last seven matches. Apart from him, Varun Chakravarthy can do well in bowling, who has taken 17 wickets in the last eight matches.
Tip
| Player | Tip | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Abhishek Sharma | Over 24.5 Runs | 1.85 |
Abhishek Sharma has been in excellent form, scoring 271 runs in his last 10 matches at a strike rate above 163. His aggressive intent at the top makes him India’s key powerplay batter and a strong pick to cross this line again.
New Zealand Preview
New Zealand performed brilliantly in the ODI series on this tour. Initially, it seemed that they might not win even a single match in the ODI series, but due to their good performance, they won the series. Now they would like to repeat their performance in the T20 series as well and they have the ability to do so. Mitchell Santner will lead them in this series.
In batting, New Zealand has a strong and capable batting line-up that can perform well in any situation. While the presence of some young players may make the team lack experience, it’s still a team that can’t be underestimated. In the top order, Tim Robinson can perform brilliantly, who also scored a brilliant century against Australia last year. Apart from him, Mark Chapman, who has scored 138 runs in the last nine matches with a strike rate of above 170, has the potential to perform well in the middle order. Moreover, the good experience of Devon Covey, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips can also be useful for the team.
New Zealand have a great bowling attack, they have ability to do well at any conditions. Jacob Duffy has been performing consistently well and has taken 15 wickets in the last nine matches. Apart from him, James has also taken nine wickets in the seven matches, which shows that he has the potential to perform well. Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry and Ish Sodhi can also surprise India with their excellent bowling performances.
Tip
| Player | Tip | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Chapman | Over 22.5 Runs | 1.85 |
Mark Chapman has scored 138 runs in his last nine matches at a strike rate above 170. His attacking ability in the middle order makes him a dangerous T20 batter and a strong pick to cross this mark again.
IND vs NZ Probably Playing XI
India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Suryakumar Yadav (C), Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Shivan Dube, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy.
New Zealand: Tim Robinson, Devon Conway (WK), Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner (C), Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi.
IND vs NZ Pitch Report
The pitch at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur, is generally considered a batting-friendly surface. The ball gets good bounces here, making it easier for the batters to hit the ball. Hence, the batsmen can be seen dominating the conditions here. Additionally, in the early stages of the match, the top order batters can get good support from the surface, which they can take advantage of to post a big total. However, the bowlers can do well in the second innings, so the team winning the toss can choose to bat first.
The weather on Wednesday at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur is expected to be sunny, around 28°C, with 0% chance of rain, comfortable 42% humidity, and light winds near 11 km/h.
Venue T20I Statistics
| Stats | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 12 |
| Matches won batting first | 8 |
| Matches won bowling first | 4 |
| Average 1st innings Score | 146 |
| Average 2nd innings Score | 125 |
| Highest total recorded | 215/5 (20 Ovs) – SL vs IND |
| Lowest total recorded | 79/10 (18.1 Ovs) – IND vs NZ |
| Highest score chased | 123/7 (19.4 Ovs) – WI vs RSA |
| Lowest score defended | 123/7 (20 Ovs) – AFG vs WI |
IND vs NZ Winner Prediction
Many players of the Indian team are in excellent form but small mistakes are making them lose, which they need to improve. India’s top order is made up of excellent batsmen, while in bowling too, there is a superstar like Bumrah. Hence India will be the favourites to win this match.
On the other hand, New Zealand’s young players have been consistently performing well and will face India with better performances. Their players have the ability to perform well on Indian soil and defeat Team India. Moreover, they also performed brilliantly against the West Indies in their last series. If he does well then they can definitely defeat the host.
Our Prediction: India
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Code: TOPBK
