India - New Zealand Series

India v New Zealand, 1st T20: Preview

India begin their tour of New Zealand on Wednesday with a T20 match at Christchurch. They will play two T20 matches, the second on Friday before starting with the five match ODI series.

This will be India’s first T20 match in New Zealand. The two teams have met before in the T20 world cup in South Africa in 2007, when New Zealand won the match but India went on to win the tournament. India will be favourites going into the match because they are the world champions but no one can under estimate New Zealand in their own backyard.

India haven’t had a practice match on this tour yet and have only had net practice which might prove hard for them in these initial matches but then these matches will prepare them for the challenges ahead. The bowlers have been practising running in against the wind since setting foot in the country. India are coming off a close victory in the Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, while New Zealand buckled under pressure to the Australians in their only T20 to lose by one run.

Both teams decided not to name their twelve before the game. New Zealand are waiting on the fitness of two key players, Ross Taylor and Jacob Oram while India preferred to keep their cards closed as the weather is likely to play spoilsport.

The match will begin at 11.30 am IST.

New Zealand are coming off a satisfactory tour of Australia in which they pushed the home team hard in the one-dayers.

Tags: India, new zealand