🏏India vs New Zealand, 1st T20I: JSCA Stadium Complex, Ranchi 🏏 - Page 2

Once again, there is no Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma and it is likely that these players won't be there in T20 series for the immediate future.

Rohit and head coach Rahul Dravid have said that India are prioritizing ODI cricket considering there is a World Cup that they are set to host later this year and so players who are considered as those who will play that tournament will be playing more ODIs whenever possible among the two white-ball formats.

Match in Ranchi

Ruturaj Gaikwad is injured and out for the series but India have not gone for a replacement. There is hence a chance that we could see Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan opening once again, unless the management decide to give Prithvi Shaw a go, of course.

That is unlikely considering what Hardik Pandya said during the pre-match press conference.

The great man will always be in the conversations whenever a match is being hosted in his hometown of Ranchi. Dhoni is, in fact, at the stadium often nowadays, going through the drills in preparation for the 2023 IPL.

He even met the Indian team yesterday, clad in his blue Jharkhand training kit.

Originally posted by: Viswasruti

The great man will always be in the conversations whenever a match is being hosted in his hometown of Ranchi. Dhoni is, in fact, at the stadium often nowadays, going through the drills in preparation for the 2023 IPL.

He even met the Indian team yesterday, clad in his blue Jharkhand training kit.

It is also my Hometown 😆

When T20s started, it was seen as an abridged version of one dayers. But tables have turned. Now, they are an extension of ODIs.

350 is the new 300 in ODIs and even that doesn't look safe. So, however out of context this T20I series might look from the outside, the T20 mercernaries from both sides who want a ticket for the 50 World Cup can have a free audition in the next three games.

India despite being a little light on stalwarts would still start as favorites

Thanks for the tag Madhu. Hoping for a great contest.

Cheers..

In Pandya, India have a skipper who doesn't believe in hedging his options. It is either his way or the highway. His instinctive decision making can be lauded one day and come under the scanner the next. Reminds you of someone? In Santner, NZ have a calm and shrewd cricketing brain and he dons the yellow as well when he ain't a black cap.

Kumar Abhisekh Das---

I am not a fan of comparisons, but I guess when Pandya leads, he reminds you of a mane-laden MS from 2007! He is his own man and looks mostly unfazed. He might be a bit over the top at times but that's the original fervour that adds more spice to his leadership skills. Again, when in Ranchi you are bound to go down the memory lane a little. And Pandya himself is a finisher and doubles up as a new ball bowler, which adds tremendous balance to this side.

When is it starting??