Although the ODI and T20I series was built up as a battle of the world heavyweights, New Zealand has appeared as slightly unprofessional against a clinical Indian team on most of the occasions. Their occasional blasts weren’t really causing much of a problem for India, who with their powerful bowling and batting arsenal had effective counter-measures in place. But the hosts did manage to land a couple of telling blows in the first T20I.

The platform for New Zealand’s victory in the T20I opener was set up by Tim Seifert, who sent the Indian bowlers on a leather hunt with his 43-ball 84. The Indian bowlers clearly missed the bowling of Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav. Their decision to go in with eight batting options meant that they had to compromise on the bowling attack. But the lengthy batting order still failed to score the required amount of runs as they were bundled out for 136. 

ALSO READ: Predicted XI Of Team India For The Second T20I 

With only a day’s break between the T20I games, India has a very short time to prepare for a turnaround and keep the series alive. However, in the three Super Smash games played at Eden Park this season, 180-plus totals have been chased down four times – hinting at another high-scorer when New Zealand and India face off. Partly cloudy condition with a high of 21 degree Celsius is forecast during the match time.

Not opting for both James Neesham and Doug Bracewell for the first match, New Zealand went in with Daryl Mitchell and Colin de Grandhomme as the all-round choices. However, both failed to make any useful contribution with the bat which might force the management to look at Neesham and Bracewell for the second match.

ALSO READ: New Zealand Seems To Be India’s T20I Nemesis

On the other hand, Team India had six bowling options in the first T20I but they used only five, not letting Vijay Shankar to bowl. The Tamil Nadu all-rounder, however, came up with a promising knock with the bat and that will stick his spot for the second match. Meanwhile, Dinesh Karthik also failed with the bat, Hardik Pandya was a let-down with both bat and ball, while Bhuvnenshwar Kumar had expensive figures. Should they look at reinforcements, India has plenty of replacement options in Mohammad Siraj, Shubman Gill, Siddharth Kaul, Kedar Jadhav, and Kuldeep Yadav, who all warmed the bench during the first match.

Predicted XIs:

India: Rohit Sharma (C), Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Vijay Shankar, MS Dhoni (WK), Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Khaleel Ahmed

New Zealand: Colin Munro, Tim Seifert(WK), Kane Williamson(C), Ross Taylor, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Scott Kuggeleijn, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson

Some crucial stats ahead of the series:

• New Zealand are the only team against whom India have more losses than wins in T20Is. They have won only two of the nine matches played against the Blackcaps.
• The last time India lost a T20I series (min. two matches) was against the Windies in Florida in August 2016.
• Rohit Sharma needs one more fifty-plus score to go past Virat Kohli as the player with most fifty-plus scores in T20Is. Both are tied with 19 such scores.
• Rohit Sharma needs two more sixes to reach the milestone of 100 sixes in T20Is. Chris Gayle and Martin Guptill currently top this list with 103 sixes apiece.