Punjab Newsline,Sports:
Ishan Kishan to Bat at No. 3, Samson and Abhishek to Open; Bumrah Returns
The Indian cricket team will play its first T20 match of the year on Wednesday. India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, will face New Zealand at the Vidarbha Cricket Stadium in Nagpur. The match will begin at 7:00 PM. This series is considered extremely important for Team India, as it comes just ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup.
The five-match T20 series against New Zealand will serve as India’s final preparation before the World Cup. Team India will host the T20 World Cup at home starting February 7, making this series a crucial opportunity to test team combinations and assess player form. Special focus will be on captain Suryakumar Yadav, who looked out of form during the recent series against South Africa and will be keen to regain his rhythm.
Ahead of the first match, the team management confirmed that Ishan Kishan will bat at number three in the T20 lineup. The opening responsibility will be handled by Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma. Ishan is expected to play an aggressive role in the middle order and provide momentum after the openers give the team a solid start.
The series also marks the return of fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah was rested during the ODI series against New Zealand as part of workload management. His comeback is expected to significantly strengthen India’s bowling attack, especially in the death overs where his experience and accuracy are vital.
The pitch at Nagpur is generally considered favorable for batsmen, though fast bowlers may get some assistance in the early overs. Both teams are likely to field balanced playing XIs. India will aim to start the series with a win and build confidence ahead of the World Cup, while New Zealand will look to challenge the hosts and make a strong statement in the opening match.