India open five-match T20I series against New Zealand on Thursday
India open their multi-format tour of New Zealand with the first T20I at Hagley Oval on Thursday, less than 72 hours after landing.
India begin a five-match T20I series against New Zealand at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Thursday. The tour also includes five ODIs and two Tests across 43 days. Shreyas Iyer leads a squad that features Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma and the returning Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Mitchell Santner captains New Zealand, who field Finn Allen, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Tim Seifert and Jacob Duffy.
Hagley Oval has produced an average first-innings score of 161 in its last five T20Is, with pace bowlers taking nearly 70 per cent of the wickets. Eight members of the Indian squad are making their first visit to New Zealand. The visitors arrived less than 72 hours before the opener after a 2-2 draw against the West Indies.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar returns after a 1,425-day absence from the format, having taken 28 wickets in 16 IPL matches this season. New Zealand expect early swing and bounce on a surface that has favoured seam movement in recent years.