Nagpur erupted with anticipation as the first T20I of the five-match series against New Zealand kicked off at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and elected to field first, citing a high-scoring wicket that favored chasing under the lights.
In a major boost for India, explosive opener Ishan Kishan marked his long-awaited return to the playing XI after an extended absence. The left-hander, known for his aggressive stroke-play, slots in alongside Abhishek Sharma at the top, with skipper Suryakumar Yadav leading a star-studded lineup. Notably absent are Shreyas Iyer, Harshit Rana, Ravi Bishnoi, and Kuldeep Yadav, signaling a fresh approach post the 1-2 ODI series loss.
Santner, beaming with confidence, highlighted the pitch’s condition: ‘It’s looking like a belter for high scores. We’ve got three seamers, including debutant Kristian Clarke, alongside Jamieson and Duffy.’ The Kiwi skipper emphasized the challenge of winning in India but viewed this series as prime World Cup preparation.
India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav admitted they too fancied bowling first due to potential dew but backed his batting firepower. ‘No issues putting runs on the board; we’ve chased well before,’ he noted.
The pitch tells its own story—wide cracks suggest seam movement rather than spin, unlike New Zealand’s previous visit where turn dominated. Minimal dew tonight could tilt the balance.
India’s XI: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy.
New Zealand’s XI: Tim Robinson, Devon Conway (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy.
As the national anthems fade, all eyes are on whether India’s batting depth can overpower New Zealand’s renewed bowling attack in this series curtain-raiser. A win here sets the tone for India’s redemption arc.