Who will win the India vs New Zealand second T20I match? Check out the IND vs NZ today match prediction
The second T20I between India and New Zealand is set to take place at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, on October 24. Shreyas Iyer-led side is currently leading the 5-match series 1-0, after their record chase in T20I cricket history in the series opener at the same venue. Team India wants to extend its 1–0 lead to 2–0 by winning the 2nd T20I, while New Zealand looks to bounce back.
Pitch Report: Hagley Oval, Christchurch
The match will be played at the Hagley Oval, Christchurch. The ground is generally considered to be a high-scoring ground, and fans also witnessed this in the first match. Once again, something similar is expected to happen. So far, a total of 20 international T20Is have been played at this ground, with the team batting first winning 9 matches and the team chasing winning 11. Both teams can decide to bowl first after winning the toss. If the team bats first, they will have no choice but to make a huge total on this ground.
India vs New Zealand: head-to-head in T20Is
India and Afghanistan have faced each other 32 times in T20I cricket so far, with India winning 21, West Indies winning 11. A total of 3 matches ended in a tie, and India won all of them in the super over.
IND vs WI: Probable playing XIs
In the second T20I, team India will have to enter with a forced change as No.1 ranked T20I batter Ishan Kishan will miss the match due to a low-grade right adductor strain. According to reports, the management wants to include Vaibhav Suryavanshi in the same playing XI. Indian fans have also been consistently demanding the inclusion of 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi in the playing XI.
If Vaibhav plays, Sanju Samson could bat at 3. Captain Shreyas Iyer (at No. 4), and Tilak Varma (at No. 5) will feature in the middle order. Following them, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, and Axar Patel will play the role of all-rounders. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mayank Yadav, and Arshdeep Singh will be the three pacers. There could also be some changes in the New Zealand playing XI; Jacob Duffy might be included in the playing XI.
Predicted India playing XI
Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson (wk), Shreyas Iyer ©, Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Mayank Yadav, Prince Yadav
Predicted West Indies playing XI
Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Bevon Jacobs, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Adam Milne, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson
Players to watch out for in the IND vs WI match
Best batter: Sanju Samson (India)
Sanju Samson is currently in sensational form. In the first T20I, his blistering knock of 68 runs off just 32 balls helped India comfortably chase down a stiff target of 226. His innings included 6 fours and 3 sixes. He will be keen to maintain this excellent form and play another significant innings to lead Team India to victory.
Best bowler: Bhuvneshwar Kumar (India)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, making his return to the Indian side after four years, proved quite expensive in the first T20I; he conceded 49 runs in his 4 overs without taking a single wicket. However, Bhuvi could well turn his figures around in the second match.
However, he has the ability to take wickets in the powerplay and death overs, which makes him different from other bowlers, and he will want to showcase his ability in the next match.
