IND vs NZ: Predicted India Playing 11 for India vs New Zealand 1st T20I

Hardik Pandya is yet to lose a T20I series as a captain. He has been doing a good job and it is more or less confirmed that India have sacked Rohit Sharma as the skipper of the side in T20Is. Hardik Pandya has task cut out to prepare a team for the T20I world cup in 2024 with no senior members in the team. His next assignment as the skipper will be the 3 match T20I series against New Zealand in India.

IND vs NZ: Shubman Gill to continue as an opener

Shubman Gill isn’t a batsman who is ready to open for India in T20Is. There are much better candidates who can do the job as an opener but Hardik Pandya trusted Shubman Gill ahead of others to open in the Sri Lankan series. The Punjab lad didn’t have an impressive series to say the least. He did play a half decent knock in the 3^rd game but that’s all he is capable of, at the moment.

Hardik Pandya is big on backing players and giving them a long rope. It is certain that Shubman Gill won’t be dropped after a series and is likely to continue as an opener alongside Ishan Kishan.

After an impressive knock in the 3^rd match, Rahul Tripathi is likely to continue as the #3 batsman in the team. His intent was refreshing and even garnered praise from the skipper Hardik Pandya in the post match presentation. Sanju Samson was ruled out due to injury in the recently concluded series against SL, but he is unlikely to comeback into the playing 11 even if he is fit as Rahul Tripathi has grabbed the opportunity with both the hands.

The middle order will have Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya while India will be playing Deepak Hooda at #6 which is a terrible decision but they seem to have fixed their mind about Deepak Hooda’s position.

The pace attack will have Shivam Mavi, Umran Malik and Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal will continue to lead the spin attack.

Axar Patel who bagged the player of the series award against Sri Lanka In the T20I series will be the spin bowling all rounder batting at #7.

IND playing 11

1. Shubman Gill
2. Ishan Kishan
3. Rahul Tripathi
4. Suryakumar Yadav
5. Hardik Pandya
6. Deepak Hooda
7. Axar Patel
8. Shivam Mavi
9. Umran Malik
10. Arshdeep Singh
11. Yuzvendra Chahal