The stage is set for an exciting five-match T20 series India Welcomes new zealand At the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium in Nagpur. With the 2026 T20 World Cup just a few weeks away, this series serves as an important final rehearsal for both the teams to decide their tactical combinations and player roles.
India is looking to make a comeback in the T20 stage 1-2 defeat in the recently concluded ODI series. Under the leadership of Suryakumar YadavIndia’s T20 team has been a powerhouse, but all eyes will be on the captain himself, who is trying to find a way out of a rare situation with the bat. the return of hardik pandya And Jasprit Bumrah Provides much-needed balance and firepower to the missing squad Tilak Verma And washington beautiful Due to injuries.
New Zealand, captained by michel santnerHave arrived on this tour with high morale after historic wins in longer formats. The Kiwis have an all-round unit that includes players like explosive hitters finn allen And versatile all-rounder like Rachin Ravindra. while they face scarcity Michael Bracewell And adam milne (Niggles), his ability to adapt to Indian conditions makes him a formidable threat.
IND vs NZ 1st T20I: Probable playing XI
India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Varun Chakraborty, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh.
New Zealand: Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Lockie Ferguson, Ish Sodhi, Ben Lister
Also read: 3 main reasons for India’s defeat in the ODI series against New Zealand
Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium Pitch Report
Nagpur has traditionally been known to have a slow and low surface that assists spinners and fast bowlers who rely on cutters and variation rather than raw pace. Batting in the beginning can be challenging, times do not always come easy. However, with heavy dew expected during the second innings, conditions are likely to ease considerably, making stroke play easier. As a result, the captain who wins the toss is expected to opt to bowl first to take advantage of difficult early conditions and more favorable chasing conditions later in the game.
Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium Stats & Records
- Total matches: 12
- Matches won by batting first: 8
- Matches won by bowling first: 4
- Average score of first innings: 146
- Average score of second innings: 125
- Highest total recorded: 215/5 (20 overs) Sri Lanka vs India
- Lowest total recorded: 79/10 (18.1 overs) India vs New Zealand
- Highest score chased: 123/7 (19.4 overs) West Indies vs South Africa
- Defense of lowest score: 123/7 (20 overs) Afghanistan vs West Indies
Also read: Is Ravindra Jadeja’s journey in ODI over? A deep look at his dwindling fortunes
