NZ vs IND Match Preview
With Devon Conway, Finn Allen, Glenn Phillips, and Daryl Mitchell all available for this series, New Zealand has a strong batting lineup with plenty of depth and power. Conway and Phillips are the two players that we think could make an impact.
Lockie Ferguson, Tim Southee, and Blair Tickner will be the primary bowlers with Neesham, Phillips, and Mitchell chipping in as needed.
India is without Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Rohit Sharma among others, and is also without its coach Rahul Dravid.
This can be seen as an opportunity to build the next set of players for the T20 format.
Expect Pandya to bat at 4 or 5 at the lowest to try and maximize his own batting abilities. Shubman Gill will open the batting. We think Rishab Pant might be given the role of the other opener for an extended period of time with Suryakumar Yadav at number three, and then Shreyas Iyer in the middle-order (4 or 5). Sanju Samson should hopefully get his position at number 6.
Arshdeep Singh is a sure starter and could have Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umran Malik with him in the lineup. India is more likely to go back to Harshal Patel, though, and leave out Malik.
Weather Report
There is some rain around in Wellington, as is usually the case, but we still expect a full match to be played.
Pitch Report
The pitch remains consistent throughout the duration of the match although the win conditions can sometimes bring the swing bowlers into the game.
More than 330 runs have been scored in the previous three international matches played here and we could be in for another game of around that range.
A score of 160-170 batting first should be seen as just par.
Notable stats
Tim Southee Leads The Way
Tim Southee has picked up 14 wickets in 7 innings at this venue. His economy rate of 6.36, an average of 12.71, and a strike rate of 12.00 suggest that swing bowlers tend to do well at this venue.
Team News
Both teams have announced their squads and could make some interesting choices as they try and develop their players for the big tournaments.
NZ vs IND Probable 11
NZ Playing 11
- Finn Allen
- Devon Conway (Wk)
- Kane Williamson (C)
- Glenn Phillips
- Daryl Mitchell
- James Neesham
- Mitch Santner
- Tim Southee
- Lockie Ferguson
- Blair Tickner
- Ish Sodhi
IND Playing 11
- Rishab Pant (Wk)
- Shubman Gill
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Shreyas Iyer
- Hardik Pandya (C)
- Sanju Samson
- Washington Sundar
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Yuzvendra Chahal
- Harshal Patel
- Arshdeep Singh
Dream11 Prediction
A close match with lots of runs being scored is likely and we think that India could end up surprising a few people in this series. Their young players are not inexperienced and are certainly capable of winning this match. The team has an opportunity to play fearlessly which we hope they will embrace.
India should be able to end up the winners.
Top Picks
Suryakumar Yadav - The world's number 1 batter, SKY is also very good against high-pace. He showed just how destructive he can be in the T20 World Cup but we think his true potential could be unlocked as he moves to number three.
Devon Conway - He is in good form and also has a good record against the Indians. We think he matches up well against India's swing bowlers and wrist-spinners.
Arshdeep Singh - If there is some swing on offer, and in New Zealand there generally is, then Arshdeep could be lethal. However, if the conditions are flat then he could disappear for a lot of runs.
NZ vs IND Dream11 Team 1
Keeper: S Samson, D Conway, R Pant
Batters: S Yadav (C), G Phillips, S Gill
All-rounders: M Santner, H Pandya (VC)
Bowlers: T Southee, L Ferguson, A Singh
