India and New Zealand are set to face each other in the 3rd match of the New Zealand tour of India T20I series at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, on Sunday, January 25. The match will 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 clash.
India have made a strong start to this five-match T20I series, winning both games played so far. Under confident leadership, the Men in Blue have dominated New Zealand in all departments and currently lead the series 2-0. With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 approaching, this series is important for India to test combinations and build momentum. A win in this match would allow India to seal the series early and manage workloads ahead of the big tournament.
New Zealand, meanwhile, have struggled in the series and will be under pressure after losing both matches clearly. They have been outplayed with both bat and ball and have not been able to match India’s intensity. The visitors will need a much-improved performance in Guwahati if they want to stay alive in the series. This match becomes crucial for New Zealand to regain confidence and show fight.
Head-to-Head Record: Till now, a total of 27 T20I matches have been played between these two sides, in which India have won 14 matches, while New Zealand have won 10, and three matches ended in a tie. In the recent past, India have enjoyed the upper hand, including winning two out of three matches in the last T20I series between the teams. Overall, India hold a clear advantage over New Zealand in T20Is, especially when playing at home.
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India Preview
Team India have been outstanding in this series so far and have completely dominated New Zealand in both matches. In the opening T20I, India took control from the very beginning, with the batters putting on a powerful display. Abhishek Sharma played a destructive knock of 84 runs in 35 balls, hitting 8 sixes and 5 fours, which gave India a flying start. Rinku Singh finished the innings strongly with an unbeaten 44 runs in 20 balls, helping India post a massive total of 238 runs, their highest T20I score against New Zealand.
In the second T20I, India once again showed their strength, this time while chasing. They comfortably chased down a target of 209 runs with 28 balls to spare. Ishan Kishan made a stunning comeback to the side, scoring a quick 76 runs in 32 balls with 11 fours and 4 sixes, including the fastest fifty by an Indian against New Zealand in T20Is. Captain Suryakumar Yadav also returned to form in style, scoring an unbeaten 82 runs in 37 balls and ending his long wait for a fifty. His knock came at the perfect time ahead of the T20 World Cup and boosted India’s confidence further.
India’s batting unit has looked complete, with contributions coming from the top and middle order. Abhishek Sharma has been fearless at the top, Ishan Kishan has added firepower and Suryakumar Yadav’s form gives stability and leadership
India’s bowling has been very effective in this series. Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav have controlled the middle overs well and picked up key wickets at the right time. Arshdeep Singh has given good support with the new ball by keeping things tight early. Overall, the bowlers have worked together and helped India stay in control of the matches.
Tip
| Player | Tip | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Suryakumar Yadav | Over 34.5 Runs | 1.85 |
Suryakumar Yadav has returned to form and looked fluent at the crease in the previous outing. With his ability to dominate bowlers in the middle overs, he is well placed to play another impactful knock and cross this mark.
New Zealand Preview
New Zealand have had a difficult time in this series so far, despite putting up good totals in both matches. In the first T20I, they scored 190 for 7, but still lost to India by 48 runs. Glenn Phillips was the standout performer scoring 78 runs in 40 balls, which included 6 sixes and 4 fours. During this innings, Phillips also reached the milestone of 2,000 T20I runs and 4,000 international runs making it a memorable personal performance.
In the second T20I, New Zealand posted an even bigger total of 208 for 6. Rachin Ravindra contributed with 44 runs in 26 balls, while captain Mitchell Santner played a strong finishing role, scoring an unbeaten 47 runs in 27 balls. However, once again, India chased the target comfortably. New Zealand’s bowlers struggled to control India’s aggressive batting, especially after the powerplay and were unable to defend a strong total.
Bowling has been New Zealand’s biggest concern in this series. While they managed to take some early wickets, they lacked consistency in the middle and death overs. To strengthen their pace attack, Kyle Jamieson was added to the squad as a replacement for the injured Henry Milne. Even so, New Zealand will need a much better all-round performance if they want to challenge India on their home ground in this format.
Tip
| Player | Tip | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Glenn Phillips | Over 27.5 Runs | 1.85 |
Glenn Phillips has been New Zealand’s standout batter in the series, smashing 78 off just 40 balls in the first game. His explosive power-hitting makes him their biggest batting threat and a strong pick to cross this mark again.
IND vs NZ Probably Playing XI
India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah/Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy.
New Zealand: Tim Robinson, Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (C), Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy, Ish Sodhi
IND vs NZ Pitch Report
The pitch at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, is generally considered good for batting. The surface offers nice bounce and pace, which helps batters play their shots freely, especially in the early part of the game. Bowlers may get some help at the start, but as the match progresses, batting becomes easier and run-scoring improves. Spinners can play a role in the middle overs when the pitch slows down slightly. Overall, batters need to be careful early on, but once they settle, they can score runs more comfortably on this surface.
The weather on Sunday at ACA Stadium, Barsapara, Guwahati is expected to be clear, around 20°C, with 0% chance of rain, high 80% humidity, and light winds near 3 km/h.
Venue T20I Statistics
| Stats | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 7 |
| Matches won batting first | 3 |
| Matches won bowling first | 3 |
| Average 1st innings Score | 161 |
| Average 2nd innings Score | 153 |
| Highest total recorded | 237/3 (20 Ovs) – IND vs RSA |
| Lowest total recorded | 118/10 (20 Ovs) – IND vs AUS |
| Highest score chased | 225/5 (20 Ovs) – AUS vs IND |
| Lowest score defended | 119/6 (20 Ovs) – ENGW vs INDW |
IND vs NZ Winner Prediction
India have been in great form throughout this series and look clear favourites going into the third T20I in Guwahati. Their batting has clicked well, with Abhishek Sharma providing aggressive starts, Ishan Kishan making a strong comeback and Suryakumar Yadav finding his rhythm again. The team looks confident and settled and the return of Jasprit Bumrah will further strengthen an already strong bowling attack.
New Zealand have struggled to match India’s intensity so far. While players like Glenn Phillips and Mitchell Santner have shown some fight, the overall team performance has been inconsistent. Their bowling has leaked runs at key moments, making it hard to put pressure on India. With home conditions, strong momentum, and key players in form, India look well placed to win this match and seal the series.
Our Prediction: India
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