India vs New Zealand – 1st T20 International Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is India vs New Zealand taking place? Wednesday, November 17th, 2021 – 13:30 (UK)
Where is India vs New Zealand taking place? Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
What is the expected weather for India vs New Zealand? 17-20c with partial cloud, before clear skies later and light winds
What channel is India vs New Zealand on? The match will be televised live on Sky Sports Cricket (channel 404)
Where can I stream India vs New Zealand? The match can be streamed live the SkyGo app
LAST MEETING
New Zealand beat India by 8 wickets
THE TEAM NEWS
INDIA
- India return home here to play their first T20i following the recent T20 World Cup, which saw them disappoint despite coming into the tournament as one of the favourites to win it.
- Two defeats in their opening two games against Pakistan and New Zealand respectively ultimately left them with too much to do in the Super 12s stage, leading them to miss out on semi-final qualification.
- Following Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri stepping down from their roles as captain and head coach respectively, Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid will lead India into a new era of T20i cricket starting in Jaipur, although they will be without Kohli, bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, all of whom are being rested alongside all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.
NEW ZEALAND
- New Zealand don’t have much time to pick themselves up after falling just short at the T20 World Cup, losing the final against neighbours Australia only this past Sunday after their score of 172 was comfortably chased down in Dubai.
- It will be a different India side to the one they faced in the Super 12s stage of the T20 World Cup, although New Zealand themselves aren’t expected to make any radical changes, bar the possibility of resting key fast bowler Trent Boult and playing Kyle Jamieson in his place.
- Wicketkeeper batter Devon Conway will miss this T20i series and the upcoming test series against India after breaking his hand in the Black Caps’ T20 World Cup semi-final victory over England, so Tim Seifert is expected to take the gloves for this match as he did most recently against Australia.
THE PREDICTION
For New Zealand here it may well be a case of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’ having had such little time to reflect and recuperate following a draining T20 World Cup campaign. For them to jump straight back into action in a different country only three days later must be mentally and physically draining, so it would be no surprise if that is reflected in their performance here. India meanwhile, have a huge point to prove under the captaincy of Rohit, who will be desperate to get off to a winning start in his first match as the new permanent T20i skipper. With more time to prepare for this series, not to mention home advantage being in their favour, an India win in this first T20i of the series has to be favoured.
