After winning the five-match ODI series 4-1, team India will be eying their maiden T20I series win on New Zealand soil when they take on the hosts in three matches T20I series that starts tomorrow at Westpac Stadium, Wellington.
In the ODI series, India outplayed New Zealand in all departments except the fourth ODI in Hamilton where India bowled out for just 92 runs. Indian spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal made the difference between these two sides and they'll be the trump card for India in this T20I series as well.
On the other hand, New Zealand will be looking for a fresh start and will seek a reversal of fortunes. New Zealand's top order batsmen Colin Munro, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor all have been disappointing in the ODI series and they need to play big innings to put India under pressure. And New Zealand has a good record against India in T20Is and it'll also boost their confidence further.
Team News -
India: Virat Kohli is rested for T20I series as well and in his absence, Rohit Sharma will lead India and Shubman Gill might make his T20I debut. MS Dhoni will also return to the side after missing T20I series against West Indies and Australia.
New Zealand: Trent Boult is rested for all the three matches and Martin Guptill is ruled out of the series due to a back injury.
Probable XI :
India - Rohit Sharma (C), Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, MS Dhoni (Wk), Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed.
New Zealand: Tim Seifert (Wk), Colin Munro, Kane Williamson (C), Ross Taylor, Jimmy Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Doug Bracewell, Tim Southee, Scott Kuggeleign, Lockie Ferguson.
All the major stats and facts ahead of the first T20I between New Zealand and India in Wellington :
1. Head to Head -
| Venue | T20Is | Won by NZ | Won by IND | Tied | NR |
| New Zealand | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| India | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Neutral | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Overall | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
4 - New Zealand has won their last 4 T20Is they have played at Westpac Stadium, Wellington. Their last loss at this venue came against England in February 2013.
8 - Ish Sodhi has taken 8 wickets at an average of 11.37 in 4 T20I he played against India.
11 - India has 11 of 12 T20Is captained by Rohit Sharma. Only loss under his leadership came against Sri Lanka in Colombo last March.
36 - Rohit Sharma needs 36 more runs to go past Martin Guptill's tally of 2272 runs and become the leading run scorer in T20I cricket.
44 - Yuzvendra Chahal has taken 44 wickets in T20Is and needs 6 more wickets to become the second Indian bowler to take 50 wickets in this format after R Ashwin (52).
50 - Colin Munro will make his 50th appearance for New Zealand in T20I cricket.
