India will begin their five-match T20I series against New Zealand on Wednesday, January 21, with the opening match to be played at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium. The upcoming series will be important as both the teams will look to fine-tune their combination ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
This article provides details on the probable playing XIs of India and New Zealand for the first T20I, team selection and key players to watch out for in the opening match of the series.
India’s playing XI vs New Zealand 1st T20I:
Suryakumar Yadav will captain India for the series, but the squad will be without Tilak Verma and Washington Sundar, who are currently out due to injuries despite being named in the World Cup squad. Shreyas Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi have been brought into the team as replacements.
Openers: Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson
Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson are likely to continue at the top of the order in India’s first T20I against New Zealand. After experimenting with the batting order in recent matches, the team management may back Samson, who also opened in his last match against South Africa.
Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Akshar Patel, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dubey.
Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan are back in the T20I setup after some time. While Iyer has performed well in ODIs since returning from injury, Kishan has impressed in domestic cricket and is part of the T20 World Cup squad. Kishan has scored 796 runs in 32 T20Is at an average of 25, which can give him an edge.
Hardik Pandya works closely with Shivam Dubey, a regular in the team, as a fast bowling all-rounder. Pandya’s bowling workload will be closely monitored following the injury.
Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakraborty
Varun Chakraborty may be given preference over Kuldeep Yadav for the opening batsman, as New Zealand’s batsmen handled Kuldeep well in the recent ODI series. The fast bowling attack will be led by Jasprit Bumrah, while Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana will compete for the remaining spots in the bowling lineup.
India’s playing XI: Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dubey, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakraborty.
New Zealand Playing XI vs New Zealand 1st T20I:
New Zealand approach the series in good form after a 3-1 home T20I win over West Indies. Known for his calm approach and clear plans, he has been able to challenge India with a balanced team.
Openers: Devon Conway and Tim Robinson
Devon Conway and Tim Robinson are expected to open the innings. Both batsmen focus on consistency and strike rotation, which will be important in containing the early pressure and establishing a steady base.
Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner.
The middle-order is built around Daryl Mitchell, who remains the backbone of the batting unit after recent strong performances against India. Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman add control in the middle overs.
James Neesham and Michael Bracewell provide strength and depth, while captain Mitchell Santner contributes with both bat and ball, especially with spin expected to be of importance in Nagpur.
Bowlers: Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy, Ish Sodhi, Mitchell Santner
New Zealand’s bowling attack offers variety and control. Kyle Jamieson provides bounce and seam, while Jacob Duffy can use any early movement. Disciplined bowling and at least a strong batting performance will be crucial for New Zealand’s success.
New Zealand Playing XI: Devon Conway, Tim Robinson, Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy
Also read: Mitchell Santner admits India still scared of New Zealand despite historic Test-ODI series win
