๐ ๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฆ ๐๐
India
New Zealand
India will take on New Zealand in the 1st T20I of the New Zealand tour of India 2026 at the Vidarbha Cricket Stadium, Nagpur. This match will begin a 5-match T20I series and will serve as preparation for the T20 World Cup next month. Both teams enter this game with similar recent form, having won 4 of their last 6 T20Is.
India will come into this contest after losing the ODI series 2-1, and the focus will shift to quick scoring and disciplined bowling. New Zealand will look to carry confidence from the ODI series win and test India in the shortest format.
The head-to-head record in T20Is favours India. India will have won 14 of the 26 matches, while New Zealand will have won 10, with two no results. India will also hold the edge in recent meetings, having won 3 of the last 5 T20Is against New Zealand.
Indiaโs opening pair will bat as usual with high powerplay strike rates, while New Zealandโs key run-scorers will arrive in the middle order.
The betting tip is...
Highest Opening Partnership - India
80 %
20 %
IndiaNew ZealandIndia has made a few changes. Shreyas Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi are added to the squad in place of Washington Sundar and Tilak Varma, who will miss the first 3 T20Is.
Abhishek Sharma will enter the series with strong recent form, having scored 271 runs in his last 10 matches at a SR of 163.25. Varun Chakravarthy leads the spin attack with 17 wickets in his last 8 matches at a SR of 10.94.
Suryakumar Yadavโs form will remain under focus with the T20 World Cup approaching. Axar Patel will play a key all-round role and will serve as vice-captain. Jasprit Bumrah will bring experience and 9 wickets in his last 7 matches. Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh will add pace depth after picking up 3-wicket hauls in the last ODI against New Zealand.
Abhishek, Samson and Pandya are the key batters.
Predicted Lineup: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy.
New Zealand will be led by Mitchell Santner as the side begins its T20 World Cup preparations. Spin will remain a key focus, with Ish Sodhi supporting Santner, while Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra will provide part-time options.
Jacob Duffy will lead the pace unit after taking 15 wickets in his last 9 matches, while James Neesham will add support with 9 wickets in his last 7 games. Zak Foulkes will play a key role after claiming a 3-wicket haul in the last ODI.
Kyle Jamieson will add bounce and pace after taking 6 wickets in the ODI series. Daryl Mitchell will come in strong batting form after scoring 352 runs in the ODI series.
The squad will rely heavily on its all-round depth, with Santner, Neesham, Mitchell, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, and Glenn Phillips providing balance, while Matt Henry and Ish Sodhi will add experience to the bowling attack.
Mitchell, Robinson and Ravindra are the key batters.
Predicted Lineup: Tim Robinson, Devon Conway (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner (c), Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi.
India will start this T20I with a clear edge at the top of the order. Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson will look to take advantage of home conditions and attack from the first over. Abhishek will bring recent form and a high strike rate, while Samson will add stability with clean hitting against pace and spin.
NZโs batting strength will lie more in the middle order, where players like Daryl Mitchell & Glenn Phillips. That will place extra pressure on their bowlers in the powerplay. Indiaโs top five will remain the main scoring unit, and a strong start can be expected. If India gets early momentum with the bat, they will stay in control of the match.
