Suryakumar Yadav for India - (Source: AFP)
After the embarrassment in ODIs at home, the caravan now moves to Nagpur for the five-match T20I series. India will lock horns against New Zealand for the curtain raiser game on January 21 at the VCA Stadium in Maharashtra.
Suryakumar Yadav will return to lead the team, but India have dealt a heavy blow as they will be without Tilak Varma, who is one of the star players for India in the shortest format of the match. Nonetheless, the hosts have a task in hand, which is to finish the last T20I series before the T20 World Cup 2026 on a high.
India vs New Zealand 1st T20I preview
As mentioned above, India will miss Tilak Varma for the first three matches because of injury. Tilak’s absence opened space for Shreyas Iyer’s return, who makes his T20I comeback after nearly two years. Meanwhile, India are also without Washington Sundar because of the injury sustained in the ODI series.
Ravi Bishnoi has made a surprising return to the squad but will be third behind Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy in the pecking order. Unlike ODIs, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah return for the T20Is. A lot of surprises are expected in the first T20I; therefore, this article will shed light on India’s playing XI for the 1st T20I.
Top Order: Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav
No place for Shreyas Iyer, eyes on Ishan Kishan, SKY
India have made interesting choices for the New Zealand series and T20 World Cup as Sanju Samson is all set to return to open the innings with Abhishek Sharma. Due to Shubman Gill’s presence in T20Is in the past few months, Samson was forced down the middle-order.
However, Gill has been shown the door from T20Is, marking the return of Ishan Kishan. India captain, Suryakumar Yadav has confirmed that Ishan Kishan will be in the playing XI but will bat at number 3. The opening duo has opened in 12 T20Is, amassing 227 runs, averaging 22.7.
Eyes are on Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav. Kishan will be back to the Indian team after almost a 3-year hiatus but has amassed a plethora of runs in India's domestic circuit. Further, SKY is out of form and has the last chance to justify his place and assure a future post T20 World Cup as well.
Middle Order: Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel
Rinku Singh will still continue to miss out because Hardik Pandya is in fine form ahead of the Kiwi series. Talking about his performance against the Proteas, the right-handed batter scored 142 runs in three innings, including two fifty-plus scores.
Shivam Dube will also retain his place because the Indian team is utilising the CSK star as an all-rounder and making full use of his bowling abilities. Further, Axar Patel will also act as the third all-rounder of the team.
For the unversed, Axar had missed the last three T20Is against South Africa, and the management need the southpaw to have maximum game time before going into the World Cup.
Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Harshit Rana
No place for Arshdeep Singh; India likely to go ahead with two spinners
India face a daunting task now, which is to proceed with two spinners or two proper seamers. Arshdeep Singh is most likely to face the axe because Harshit Rana’s show with the bat in the 3rd ODI against New Zealand secured his spot as the new No.8. Therefore, the option is between Bumrah and Arshdeep, and the team is likely to go with the former.
Rest, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy will be the two spinners in the playing XI for the first T20I.
India's predicted playing XI for New Zealand, 1st T20I, 2026
Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy
