Time for New Zealand to raise the game

No one expected it's coming, neither New Zealand nor India, for a one-sided contest in Delhi -  considering the potential shown by the visitors in the ODIs. But it has to be it, as India haven't done a thing wrong, and New Zealand the other way around.

The gap seemed a long way, as the quality of performance between the teams nowhere near. The combination with which India came up, surprised everyone and it worked a lot well for them. But if New Zealand, had held onto the catches early on, it might have been interesting with India a batsman short, and, that, what the visitors have to do it right, to put the hosts under pressure.

Although Latham proved to be a success story in ODIs, the T20Is offer him altogether new challenge to turn the gears quickly. With Williamson at 3 and Taylor at 4, who was not a regular feature these days in T20Is, New Zealand expect a lot from their openers.

Adding to those, the visitors seemed a bowler short as De Grandhomme flattered alongside their regular quicks, but spinners were amazing even with the dew. So, was Indian spinners, but pacers had set the tone early on. And it has to be bowlers once again to take the home as Rajkot promises a belter.

Team News

New Zealand

            The visitors can't imagine better pacers in the squad to come with brilliance, as they went on with their best. Considering the batting, they need some firepower to distract the Indian bowling attack, but it has to be seen if it is  Tom Bruce.

Playing XI:1 Martin Guptill, 2 Colin Munro, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Ross Taylor/ Tom Bruce, 5 Tom Latham (wk), 6 Henry Nicholls, 7 Colin de Grandhomme, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Ish Sodhi, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Tim Southee

India

          The captain said the new combination allows them few extra overs under the sleeve. And if they go with the same perspective Mohammad Siraj will get his maiden opportunity to represent the country, in place of Nehra.

Playing XI: 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Virat Kohli (capt), 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 MS Dhoni(wk), 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Yuzvendra Chahal, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Mohammed Siraj

Pitch and Conditions

              Rajkot offered pretty flat surfaces so far in its entirety, and on Saturday it won't be any different, and it will be, another hard work at the night for the bowlers with added dew.