IND vs NZ 1st T20I preview: India vs New Zealand playing XI, pitch report, live streaming details

After a humiliating end to their T20 World Cup 2022 campaign, Team India's road to the 2024 World T20 begins with the 3-match T20 series vs New Zealand in Wellington on Friday.

Despite senior players including Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli rested for the tour, interim head coach VVS Laxman feels that the players selected for the series vs the Blackcaps, are experienced enough.

In the absence of Rohit, Hardik Pandya will once again lead the Men in Blue. According to reports, the BCCI is contemplating split captaincy and Laxman also put his weight behind Hardik as a leader.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Men in Blue have had an edge over New Zealand in recent times and are the only side to have whitewashed the Blackcaps in both the home and away T20 series. While India won 5-0 in the 2020 series in New Zealand, the subcontinental giants clean swept the Kiwis in the 3-match T20 series at home in November 2021.

Team India also has an upper hand in the overall results as New Zealand has won 9 out of the 20 T20Is vs the Men in Blue.

However, Laxman still feels that playing in New Zealand is a challenge as the pitch in Wellington is a batting paradise with the average score being around 180.

Interestingly, India has lost just 1 game vs New Zealand in the last 9 encounters, which came in the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE.

While Kane Williamson would be eager to prove that he belongs to the shortest format after he was released by SRH in the IPL, Hardik would be eying to further impress the selectors with his leadership skills.

Also read: 'We don't need to prove anything to anyone': Hardik Pandya responds to Michael Vaughan's dig at India

India vs New Zealand 1st T20 live telecast details
IND vs NZ 1st T20 date and time: 18 November at 12:00 PM (IST)

India vs New Zealand live telecast: DD Sports

IND vs NZ live streaming - Amazon Prime

India vs New Zealand Playing XI prediction

India playing XI: Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Chahal, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siraj

New Zealand playing XI: Finn Allan, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Neesham, Santner, Lockie Ferguson, Southee, Sodhi, Milne