Their most recent T20I clash on New Zealand soil was in 2022 in Napier, where the rain-interrupted match ended in a tie via the Duckworth-Lewis method. The series, however, was claimed by India, who managed to win the only game that was not wrecked by inclement weather. Unbeaten in their last two T20I series, the Shreyas Iyer-led India will rely heavily on their batting firepower to outwit New Zealand, even though the relatively inexperienced tourists have had barely two days to rest, acclimatise and train for the five-match rubber beginning on Thursday.
However, if the New Zealand series follows the script that unfolded in the UK earlier this year, pressure will only mount on Iyer, who is expected to lead India in the T20 World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand in two years’ time.
India are also without two proven match-winners in injured all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who led the team when they toured New Zealand in 2022, and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who will only play ODIs and Tests on this tour. The two countries are celebrating 100 years of sporting ties this year, and the T20I series will be followed by a five-match ODI series and two Tests.
A confident Iyer said his team is used to playing in different conditions, having taken a long flight from India hours after sharing the home series against the West Indies. New Zealand captain Santner expects the conditions to vary over the course of the series but said offering flat tracks to a power-packed India may not be the best strategy. So both teams are going to have to adapt quickly to the conditions and then play accordingly,” Santner said.
He will hope that his own big-hitters, such as Glenn Phillips and Finn Allen, outperform the Indian stars. “If there is something in the pitch for the seamers to start, it’s obviously nice, but throughout the series we’re going around the country, they’re not all going to be green seamers and flying around. But despite the jet lag, India will be overwhelming favourites to come good.
