India Wins Toss, Chooses to Field in Second T20I Against New Zealand
In a key encounter, India won the toss and opted to field against New Zealand in the second T20I. This match is part of a five-match series taking place at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
Match Overview
The Men in Blue, captained by Suryakumar Yadav, currently lead the series 1-0. They clinched victory in the first match by 48 runs, with Abhishek Sharma earning the Player of the Match award for his impressive half-century. This T20I series is crucial for both teams as they gear up for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup next month in India and Sri Lanka.
Team Changes
India made some adjustments to their lineup. Notably, all-rounder Axar Patel is sidelined due to injury, and fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been rested. In their places, Harshit Rana and Kuldeep Yadav have been included in the squad.
Captain Insights
Suryakumar Yadav noted the dew factor, which likely influenced India’s decision to chase. He emphasized the need for the team to improve its recent chasing performance. The pitch used for this match is the same as that employed during the preceding ODI series.
On the other side, New Zealand’s captain Mitchell Santner announced three changes to his team. Tim Seifert, Zak Foulkes, and Matt Henry return to the playing XI, enhancing the squad’s competitiveness.
Playing XI
| India (Playing XI) | New Zealand (Playing XI) |
|---|---|
| Sanju Samson (w) | Devon Conway |
| Abhishek Sharma | Tim Seifert (w) |
| Ishan Kishan | Rachin Ravindra |
| Suryakumar Yadav (c) | Glenn Phillips |
| Hardik Pandya | Mark Chapman |
| Shivam Dube | Daryl Mitchell |
| Rinku Singh | Mitchell Santner (c) |
| Harshit Rana | Zak Foulkes |
| Arshdeep Singh | Matt Henry |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Ish Sodhi |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | Jacob Duffy |
This captivating match promises to deliver intense competition as both teams strive to enhance their preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
