Who will win New Zealand vs India, 1st T20 2020?
As preparations for October’s ICC T20 World Cup ramp up, New Zealand and India go head-to-head in Auckland, at Eden Park, in the first of five matches in this T20i series. The first game of the series is scheduled to start at 19:50 local time.
It is New Zealand’s second five-match T20i series on home soil during the current season. They lost the last 3-2 to England, in a pulsating series which came down to a super-over in the decisive fifth match.
India, on the other hand, come into this series on the back of wins against West Indies and Sri Lanka in the shortest format, but they will have to make do without injured Shikhar Dhawan, who had only just returned to fitness to star in their ODI series win against Australia.
NZ vs IND, 1st T20 2020: Where to watch/Live streaming
TV channels: Star Sports, DD Sports, SuperSport, Fox Sports, Sky Sports Cricket, ATN Cricket Plus, Willow TV, Astro Cricket HD, OSN Sports Cricket, Gazi TV
Live streaming: Hotstar, SkyGo
NZ vs IND Toss Prediction
New Zealand lost the toss in their most recent T20i in Auckland and were put in to bat first. They may want to field first this time out.
NZ vs IND Weather Report
Though Auckland is set to be humid on Saturday, there is very little chance of rain. Conditions will be cloudy but dry otherwise.
NZ vs IND Pitch Condition
Eden Park favours spin bowling thanks to its slower pitch and humid climate, but it can also be a good surface to bat on – as was showcased last time New Zealand played a T20i here.
Read on for team previews, betting tips, latest odds and match prediction for New Zealand vs India, 1st T20 2020...
New Zealand Team News & Playing 11
NZ Team News
Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson are out injured which means Hamish Bennett, on the back of his good bowling form in the 2019-20 Super Smash, could make his T20i debut and represent New Zealand for the first time since May 2017. Colin de Grandhomme will play the first half of the series, with Tom Bruce to take over from game four, while Daryl Mitchell retains his place in the squad at the expense of Jimmy Neesham. Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Seth Rance, Doug Bracewell, Will Young and Adam Milne all missed out on selection due to various injuries.
NZ Key Players
Martin Guptill: Though not quite enough to lead Auckland to victory, the big-hitting opener finished the Super Smash in great form. He has scored 345 runs in his last eight T20 innings and passed 7,000 runs in the format in total.
Colin Munro: Guptill’s opening partner for New Zealand and Auckland Aces, he has an average of 30.92 in T20i cricket and a strike rate of 160.04 – enough to place him fourth in the world rankings for batting.
Mitchell Santner: Took 11 wickets in the recent T20i series against England, and the left-arm spinner’s next will be his 50th in T20i cricket. He sits third in the ICC T20i Bowling Rankings.
NZ Team Form
New Zealand’s last T20i series was also five matches and saw them take on an experimental England team in what proved to be a pulsating series. England opened the series with a win, but Mitchell Santner’s bowling and a half-century from Colin de Grandhomme were instrumental in turning the series around. New Zealand fell well short in reply to 241/3 in the next game, however, setting up a decider at Auckland. Martin Guptill (50 from 20 balls) and Colin Munro (46 from 21) helped power New Zealand to 146/5 in a rain-reduced 11-over match but Jimmy Neesham could not defend 12 from the final three balls and the match went to a super over. There, Tim Southee conceded 17 runs and Tim Seifert, Martin Guptill and Colin de Grandhomme could only combine to score 8/1.
New Zealand Predicted Playing 11
Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson (c), Tim Seifert (wk), Ross Taylor, Colin de Grandhomme, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Hamish Bennett, Ish Sodhi
India Team News & Playing 11
IND Team News
Shikhar Dhawan has been ruled out in NZ vs IND T20 series due to the shoulder injury he suffered against Australia and has been replaced in the squad by Sanju Samson. Mohammed Shami and Rohit Sharma were rested for India’s most recent T20i series but both are back in the squad and likely to slot straight back into the team.
IND Key Players
KL Rahul: In India’s last four T20i victories, the big-hitting opener has scored 62, 91, 45 and 54. He is instrumental at the top of the order and his T20i record is excellent – an average of 44.17 and a strike rate of 146.39.
Virat Kohli: The India captain has scored 24 T20i half-centuries and averages 52.72 in the format, with a strike rate of 138.53. His importance can never be understated.
Jasprit Bumrah: Not only does the paceman take wickets in T20i cricket, but he keeps things impressively tight for someone who bowls in the powerplay and at the death. His economy rate of 6.69 runs per over in T20i cricket is testament to that.
IND Team Form
After 2-1 series wins against Bangladesh and West Indies, India added another series success to their card by beating Sri Lanka 2-0 last time out. Rain ruined the first game of the series, before Shardul Thakur took 3-23 as India restricted Sri Lanka to 142/9 and claimed a seven-wicket win in the second game. In the third match. KL Rahul top-scored with 54 in a total of 201/6, before Navdeep Saini (3-28) and Thakur (2-19) helped bowl Sri Lanka out for 123.
India Predicted Playing 11
Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wk), Virat Kohli (c), Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah
New Zealand vs India Head to Head
New Zealand have a dominant record in this fixture in T20i cricket and beat India 2-1 in their last T20i series. That series success, at home, took New Zealand to eight wins in 11 previous T20 internationals against India. New Zealand’s batsmen were to thank for their most recent success – scoring 219/6 and 212/4 in their two victories. Colin Munro top-scored in the decider, hitting 72 before New Zealand secured a four-run win.
NZ vs IND Head to Head Stats
| Matches Played |
NZ Won |
IND Won |
Tie |
No Result |
| 11 |
8 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
New Zealand vs India Betting Odds
India are favourites to win this fixture, which is justified, though their odds are short considering their poor record against New Zealand.
NZ Bet365 Odds
- NZ to Win the Match: New Zealand are 2.37 outsiders to beat India at home with Bet365.
- NZ Top Batsman: In-form Martin Guptill is 4.00 to be New Zealand’s top team batsman with Bet365, while captain Kane Williamson is available to back at the same price. Colin Munro is 4.33, meanwhile, and Ross Taylor can be backed at 5.00 with Bet365 too. Tim Seifert, man of the series when these teams last met, is 5.50.
- NZ Top Bowler: Tim Southee will lead the New Zealand pace attack and he is 4.33 to be their top team bowler with Bet365. Potential debutant Hamish Bennett is 5.00, as are spin duo Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi.
IND Bet365 Odds
- IND to Win the Match: India are 1.57 favourites to beat New Zealand in Auckland with Bet365.
- IND Top Batsman: Virat Kohli is 3.50 to be India’s top team batsman with Bet365, while Rohit Sharma is 3.75 and in-form KL Rahul is a generous 4.00. Shreyas Iyer can be backed at 5.00 and Rishabh Pant at 6.00 with Bet365.
- IND Top Bowler: Jasprit Bumrah is 3.40 to be India’s top team bowler with Bet365, while Kuldeep Yadav and the returning Mohammed Shami are both 4.50. Shardul Thakur was in good form against Sri Lanka, and he can be backed at 5.00 to be India’s top team bowler in this game.
NZ Betway Odds
- NZ to Win the Match: New Zealand are also priced at 2.37 to beat India with Betway.
- NZ Top Batsman: Kane Williamson is 3.60 to be New Zealand’s top team batsman with Betway, whereas Martin Guptill is 3.75 and Colin Munro is as high as 4.50. Tim Seifert is a big outsider at 6.50 with Betway.
- NZ Top Bowler: Tim Southee is 4.00 with Betway to be New Zealand’s top team bowler, while Mitchell Santner can be backed at 4.25 and fellow spinner Ish Sodhi at 4.33. Santner was in excellent form against England earlier this season.
IND Betway Odds
- IND to Win the Match: India are 1.55 favourites to beat New Zealand with Betway.
- IND Top Batsman: Virat Kohli is 3.25 to be India’s top team batsman with Betway, ahead of Rohit Sharma at 3.50 and KL Rahul, who is priced at 3.75. Nobody else is even close in price, with Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer next on the Betway list at 7.00 each.
- IND Top Bowler: Jasprit Bumrah can be backed at 3.20 to be India’s top team bowler, while Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammad Shami are both 3.75 and in-form Shardul Thakur is a possible outside bet at 4.25 with Betway.
🏆 New Zealand vs India Prediction
New Zealand have a strong squad and home advantage, but India are building up some good T20i form and can start to correct their poor record in this fixture.
Jan 24, 2020
12:20 IST / 6:50 GMT
Eden Park - Auckland, New Zealand
Newzealand will win this match.