11:59 hrs IST: Good everyone and welcome to Outlook's live coverage of New Zealand Vs India, 2nd T20I. The visitors registered won the first fixture, can they increase their lead? Or will the hosts level one back?
Jasprit Bumrah was the only bowler from either side to concede less than eight runs per over on Friday. The likes of Mohammed Shami (0/53 in 4 overs) and Shardul Thakur (1/44 in 3 overs) were pounded by the Black Caps, using the pace of the outfield to their own advantage.
Navdeep Saini, who missed out on the 1st T20 due to jetlag could replace Thakur. Also, its still a question, if Virat Kohli will bring in Kuldeep Yadav or Washington Sundar as an extra spinner, considering Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravindra Jadeja did a decent job on Friday.
It is highly expected that Ravi Shastri won't bring any changes in the batting order, with Shreyas Iyer repaying the management's faith with a match-winning half-century previously.
Iyer has played in all of India's 12 T20s since September 2019, averaging 34.14 in 11 innings, coupled with two half-centuries and a strike rate of 154.19. Also, Manish Pandey and Shivam Dube proved their role as finishers in Auckland, and are favourites to be included. KL Rahul, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are the obvious starters and will look to give India a good start.
Kohli also feels that India need to improve on their fielding after some poor mistakes cost them some boundaries in the 1st T20I. "I think fielding is one thing that we can improve on, just getting used to the ground dimensions and the ball snaking a bit," said the India captain.
New Zealand will be disappointed with Friday's result. The Black Caps batted well, but it was their bowling that failed to deal with the visiting batsmen. Although Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor slammed powerful half centuries, the team still needs some finishers other than the duo. Colin de Gradhomme has failed to sparkle. Colin Munro and Martin Guptill are unable to provide stability currently as openers.
Williamson also accepted that his side needed a bigger total to win the match and 203 wasn't enough. "We know coming to Eden Park it's hard to defend and there was a bit of dew and obviously India showed their class. We knew batting first we had to get a good total on the board," said the captain.
The Kiwis are expected to field the same XI, although Daryl Mitchell could be given a chance. Meanwhile, Blair Tickner and Tim Southee will need to work on their bowling displays.
Teams:
India (from): Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul (wk), Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur, Navdeep Saini, Washington Sundar.
New Zealand (from): Kane Williamson (captain), Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Scott Kuggeleijn, Colin Munro, Colin de Grandhomme, Tom Bruce, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert (wk), Hamish Bennett, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Blair Tickner.