WT20 Preview: India look to break the Kiwi jinx in Nagpur
THE MAIN STAGE of the World T20 is here and promises to be a thrilling opening encounter between strong title contenders and hosts India against a team that have come on their own in the last two years, New Zealand.
India's batting, especially the top three in Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli is one of the strongest in the world in this format. Even if they fail, the middle order with the likes of Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya are likely to correct the situation.
The Black Caps bowling will be tested against this strong Indian batting line-up. Tim Southee is good at swinging the new ball and would be dangerous, especially against Shikhar Dhawan, getting the ball to swing back into him. He might not be able to have the same success against Kohli as the batsman leans into most of his drives and is unlikely to edge them.
Similarly, Trent Boult might be a threat against Sharma as his natural delivery comes back in to the right-handers, making him a candidate for leg before. Mohammad Amir did the same against him and Ajinkya Rahane with success in their clash at the recently-concluded Asia Cup encounter.
Adam Milne is good as a third seamer in the side in case he gets the nod ahead of Mitchell McClenaghan, who is also a decent left-arm paceman. They can also use the left-arm pacer Corey Anderson to fill in as a backup bowler.
The Kiwis will include a spinner or two in their line-up, but won't go overboard with them as the Indians are good players of spin even in turning conditions, like the one we are likely to have in Nagpur. The toss-up will be between off-break bowler Nathan McCullum and Mitchell Santner, but the latter is likely to play as he bats as well.
The likes of Raina and Yuvraj won't let the spinners settle and will look to go for the maximum when they come on to bowl.
The visitors' batting is a good one, too with Martin Guptill and skipper Williamson opening the innings. Guptill can build an innings as well as go over the top when required with ease. Williamson, on the other hand is more of a steady starter and barely plays the lofted shot, unless really required.
Colin Munro at three is a dangerous bat in this format as he holds the record for the fastest fifty in T20Is for New Zealand. He is a big six-hitter and can clear the boundary at will on his day. Ross Taylor at four is a threat, too, especially in the slog overs, using the slog over cow-corner to good use. It's amazing the number of times he connects the ball slogging.
The hard-hitters keep coming on for the Kiwis with Anderson at five. He is good using the long handle, but has a weakness against the ball turning away, giving the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin a reason to lick his fingers. Even Suresh Raina might be employed, when he comes on strike.
Grantt Elliott, Luke Ronchi and Mitchell Santner are good in their own right with the bat and form the lower-middle order.
Jasprit Bumrah will get the ball back into the opening right-handers and is also likely to bowl at the death. Comeback man Ashish Nehra might play ahead of Mohammad Shami and will look to cramp up the batsmen with his ball coming in to the right-handers. Pandya can chip in with a few crucial overs in the middle stages with his seam-ups.
Ashwin is likely to bowl more when the left-handers are on strike and there's a chance Ravindra Jadeja comes in to bowl before him as the top four Kiwi batsmen are right-handers.
The part-time spin of Yuvraj and Raina will be handy, too, but will entirely depend on the match situation as to how many overs they get to bowl between them.
An interesting match on our hands, but India are clear favourites when it comes to all three departments of the game.
India have never beaten New Zealand in the four previous T20I encounters between the two sides, and will look to break the jinx this time around in Nagpur.
The game gets underway today at 19.00 hrs IST.
