IND Vs NZ 1st T20I: Team India will play with two wicketkeepers! Playing 11 will be tested in New Zealand series before the World Cup

IND vs NZ 1st T20I Playing 11: The five-match T20 International series between India and New Zealand is going to start today, Wednesday 21 January. This series is special in many ways, because this is considered to be the last bilateral T20 series of Team India before the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. In such a situation, for captain Suryakumar Yadav and the team management, this platform is not only a big opportunity for victory but also to test the playing-11 and decide the final combination. The first match of the series will be played in Nagpur.

The New Zealand team is entering this T20 series with confidence after recently defeating India 2-1 in the ODI series. At the same time, the Indian team will try to capture the series by maintaining its strong T20 record.

Squad changed after injuries, there will be changes in playing-11

The Indian team has faced injuries before the T20 series. After the exclusion of Tilak Verma and Washington Sundar, the selectors have included Shreyas Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi in the squad. However, changes may be seen not only in the squad but also in the playing eleven. Special attention will be kept on the team combination under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav.

Pressure on Suryakumar Yadav, chance to prove himself before the World Cup

This series is considered very important for captain Suryakumar Yadav. In the year 2025, he played 22 T20 matches, but during this period his average was only 14 and not a single half-century came to his name. These figures are a matter of concern for any captain and team.

Recently in a press conference, Suryakumar had said that he is not concerned with form but with runs. This series against New Zealand is a great opportunity for him to return to form. His record against this team is also excellent, which also includes an unbeaten century of 111 runs.

Talking about T20 career, Suryakumar Yadav has so far scored 2,788 runs in 93 innings of 99 T20 matches, which includes 4 centuries and 21 half-centuries. Nagpur T20 will be his 100th international match. This series and the upcoming World Cup can decide the direction of his career.

Will Shreyas Iyer get a chance?

Shreyas Iyer is making a comeback in T20I cricket after the year 2023. Iyer has been included in the squad for the first three T20 matches, but it seems difficult for him to get into the playing-11. Captain Suryakumar Yadav has already made it clear that Ishan Kishan will bat at number 3, which means Suryakumar himself will bat at number 4. In such a situation, it is not easy to make a place for Iyer.

Two wicketkeepers, but role decided

Team India can enter this series with two wicketkeeper batsmen. Sanju Samson can be seen playing as an opener and will also handle the responsibility of wicketkeeping. Whereas, Ishan Kishan will bat at number-3. Looking at the recent form, Ishaan’s participation is considered almost certain, especially when he has also been included in the T20 World Cup squad.

Who else is in the playing 11?

Apart from this, Abhishek Sharma, who continues to impress with his explosive batting in the opening slot, will remain the team’s first choice. Star all-rounders like Hardik Pandya and vice-captain Akshar Patel are considered X-factors for the team, hence the team management would hardly take the risk of keeping them out of the playing-11.

Rinku Singh has made a special mark as a finisher in his short but impressive career so far. His explosive batting in the lower order gives additional strength to Team India. Talking about the bowling combination, it is considered almost impossible to keep the current number-1 bowler Varun Chakraborty out of the playing eleven in T20 cricket. In the spin department, he can get support from Kuldeep Yadav from the other end. However, if the team management considers the option of Kuldeep, then the Indian squad also has a strong all-rounder like Shivam Dubey, who has the ability to change the course of the match with both bat and ball. Even though Dubey’s bat has been quiet in recent matches, in bowling he has been taking wickets at important times. The responsibility of fast bowling will be on the shoulders of Jasprit Bumrah, while Arshdeep Singh will be seen playing an important role in the death overs with his accurate yorker and swing.

Probable Indian playing-11 (1st T20, Nagpur)

Abhishek Sharma,
Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper),
Ishaan Kishan,
Suryakumar Yadav (Captain),
Hardik Pandya,
Rinku Singh,
Akshar Patel (Vice Captain),
Varun Chakraborty,
Kuldeep Yadav,
Jasprit Bumrah,
Arshdeep Singh

Live telecast and streaming details

All the matches of the T20 series will be played from 7 pm, while the toss will take place at 6:30 pm. The TV matches will be telecast live on Star Sports 1 and Star Sports 1 HD. Mobile and OTT viewers can watch live streaming on Jio Hotstar.

Indian and New Zealand squads

India: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer (first three matches), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dubey, Axar Patel, Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakraborty, Ishan Kishan, Ravi Bishnoi.

New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (captain), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Christian Clarke, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Ben Lister, Daryl Mitchell, Adam Milne, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Will Young. Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Lockie Ferguson among others.