The stage is set for potential series glory in Guwahati, where India, leading 2-0, won the toss in the third T20 against New Zealand and chose to bowl at Barsapara. Suryakumar Yadav’s gamble on chasing amid expected dew highlights tactical nous.
Team India tweaks its attack with Jasprit Bumrah’s comeback and Ravi Bishnoi’s promotion, sidelining Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakaravarthy. The visitors swap Zachry Foulkes for the towering Kyle Jamieson.
Post-toss insights: SKY said, ‘Pitch favors batting, but dew suits bowling first. Rotated Arshdeep and Varun for Bumrah and Bishnoi.’ Santner added, ‘Built on our prior batting showing. Jamieson in for depth.’
Stats paint a grim picture for NZ: zero T20 wins against Aus, Eng, Ind since T20WC 2024 across eight games (5L, 3NR). India? A juggernaut with 42/47 victories since Jan 2024.
Prior triumphs—41-run and 48-run margins—have the hosts cruising after a ODI series loss. A win here clinches the five-match affair.
Lineups locked:
India: Sanju Samson†, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav*, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah.
New Zealand: Devon Conway, Tim Seifert†, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner*, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy.
Will dew derail India, or does Bumrah blow the Kiwis away?