India vs New Zealand 2023: 1st T20 Best Predicted Playing 11
Hardik Pandya to lead as we look at the confirmed playing 11 for the 2023 India vs New Zealand 1st T20.
After a dominant 3-0 whitewash over New Zealand in the ODI series, Team India now move on to the T20 series with a revamped squad. Team India are taking a completely new approach for the T20Is by resting their key players, and having Hardik Pandya lead the team.
The T20Is aren’t of utmost priority for Team India at the moment given the focus is entirely on stabilizing the squad for ODI World Cup 2023. Hence, we are seeing Team India investing in young blood in T20Is, and giving them as much opportunity as possible before the talks of a possible 18-20 members core is looked at around mid of next year.
The India vs New Zealand 2023 T20 series shall have 3 matches being played with the first match being played at Ranchi on January 27, 2023. Overall, India and New Zealand are neck-and-neck in terms of win record. In the 22 T20Is being played between each other, India have won 10 and New Zealand have won 9 with 3 matches being tied.
So, with a newly revamped squad as compared to the ODIs, what could be the best possible playing 11 that Team India can put forward? Well, let’s analyze in this article and find out the best predicted playing 11 for India vs New Zealand 2023 1st T20. Meanwhile, as per the leading website, Betway, India are favourite to win the 1st T20I with odds at 1.15.
India vs New Zealand 2023: Official T20 Series Squad for Team India
Batters: Prithvi Shaw, Rahul Tripathi, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill & Suryakumar Yadav [vc]
Wks: Ishan Kishan & Jitesh Sharma
All-rounders: Deepak Hooda, Hardik Pandya [c] & Washington Sundar
Bowlers: Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, Shivam Mavi, Umran Malik & Yuzvendra Chahal
Match Details:
Tournament: New Zealand Tour of India 2023
Type: 1st T20I
Where: Ranchi
When: January 27, 2023, 7 pm IST
Team India’s Playing 11
The last time India played T20Is, the overall playing 11 felt pretty sorted for them. India were playing with a revamped squad for the first time after T20 World Cup 2022. So, taking cues to form the same playing 11 that played against Sri Lanka, it looks unlikely India would do many changes there.
Team India added Prithvi Shaw to the T20I setup for the T20 series vs New Zealand. However, it looks unlikely he would get an opportunity with Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan continuing to open. Both did a pretty decent job vs Sri Lanka, and they only deserve another go vs New Zealand.
The Middle-order shall see Rahul Tripathi at 3, Suryakumar Yadava at 4, and Captain Hardik Pandya at 5. Tripathi did a really good job playing with intent vs New Zealand. So, he should get another opportunity to establish himself. Meanwhile, SKY and Hardik shall continue to be the backbone of the team.
Other Changes:
Coming to the Lower-order, we should see one change with Washington Sundar replacing Axar Patel. With Axar on personal leave, it only gives him an opportunity for Sundar to extend his T20 credentials further. Alongside Sundar, we should see Deepak Hooda playing the role of a finisher.
Talking about the bowlers, and especially pacers, we should see the trio of Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh, and Shivam Mavi. Mavi did a good job in his debut T20I series, so should get another go vs New Zealand. Whereas Arshdeep Singh and Umran Malik shall continue to be the two leading pacers of the squad.
Finally, the main question that India would look at is the selection of the primary spinner. Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav are both competing for this spot. While Kuldeep is in stunning form at the moment, Yuzi Chahal has done no wrong to be left out. Hence, for the 1st T20, India shall persist with Chahal.
India vs New Zealand 2023 – 1st T20 Predicted Playing 11 for India:
Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan [wk], Rahul Tripathi, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya [c], Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Shivam Mavi, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik & Yuzvendra Chahal
For New Zealand, the squad takes a dramatic shift from the one that played in the T20 World Cup 2022. The squad sees the absence of key players like Kane Williamson, Jimmy Neesham, Trent Boult, and Tim Southee. So, selecting their playing seems a slightly tough ask. Nevertheless, here’s the playing 11 that New Zealand shall select for the 1st T20 vs India.
India vs New Zealand 2023 – 1st T20 Predicted Playing 11 for New Zealand:
Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Dane Cleaver [wk], Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner [c], Lockie Ferguson, Blair Tickner & Jacob Duffy.
Thanks for reading! What’s your playing 11 for Team India for the 2023 1st T20 vs New Zealand? Please email your comments to business@cricalytics.com
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Adesh Kothari is the founder of AK4Tsay1 Cricalytics with over 20 years of experience following Cricket.
Cricket to him is like what Football is to Lionel Messi, Singing is to Lata Mangeshkar, Dancing is to Michael Jackson, and Acting is to Clint Eastwood.
Besides his effervescent love for Cricket, Adesh is an MBA by qualification.