New Zealand announce squad for upcoming T20I series against India
The New Zealand cricket team will be taking on India in a three-match T20I series starting February 6 onwards. Regular skipper Kane Williamson is back in the team after missing the one-off T20I against Sri Lanka recently. The Kiwis will be keen to make amends after having fared poorly in the ongoing ODI series against India. Here's more.
There are two new faces in the 14-man squad. All-rounder Daryl Mitchell and pacer Blair Tickner earned their maiden call-ups after strong performances in New Zealand's domestic T20 league (Super Smash). Tickner will join the side for the third T20I to replace Lockie Ferguson. "Both Daryl and Blair have been rewarded for the strong form they've produced in domestic cricket," said selector Gavin Larsen.
Kane Williamson (captain), Doug Bracewell, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson (games one and two), Martin Guptill, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Colin Munro, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert (wicket-keeper), Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner (game three).
The Kiwis have had some poor run in the 20-over format. They were blanked by Pakistan 3-0 in November 2018. Their only win in recent times came against Sri Lanka in the one-off match. New Zealand will have their task cut out against an in-form India, who didn't lose a single T20I series last year and managed to win five successive ones.
India go into the T20Is as favorites after winning the ongoing ODI series. There are two matches still left and India will be eyeing a clean sweep. The confidence is high and stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma will hope to see his side dominate the proceedings.
