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Suryakumar Yadav-led India will lock horns with New Zealand in the first T20I of the upcoming five-match series at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur on Wednesday, December 21. After a crushing 2-1 defeat in the ODI series, India will aim to bounce back to winning ways as the focus shifts towards the shortest format.
With the T20 World Cup 2026 just over a couple of weeks away, the five-match T20I series will serve as a dress rehearsal for both India and New Zealand, who will look to test their bench and get their combination right ahead of the crucial tournament. India have won their last four bilateral T20I series against the Kiwis and will aim to keep their winning run intact at home.
Ahead of the 1st T20I in Nagpur, Indian skipper Suryakumar confirmed in the pre-match presser on Tuesday that wicket-keeper Ishan Kishan is set to make his return for the Men in Blue in the series opener. Kishan, who last played for India in November 2023, will be batting at no.3 for India in the 1st T20I against the Kiwis.
Kishan will replace injured batter Tilak Varma, who has been ruled out of the five-match series due to testicular torsion. India roped in Shreyas Iyer as a replacement for Tilak, but have decided to go with Ishan at no.3 in the first T20I. Sanju Samson will open the batting with Abhishek Sharma, with Shubman Gill dropped from the T20I setup.
Rinku Singh is also expected to feature in the XI, having been included in India's T20 World Cup 2026 squad. With Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel also set to return, India's batting core remains settled. The team management will hope the batters can continue their good form in the series ahead of the all-important T20 World Cup 2026.
Senior pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who skipped the ODI series against New Zealand, will return to spearhead the pace attack in the T20I series against the Kiwis. He will lead the pace unit consisting of Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya. Harshit Rana is likely to miss out despite having done well in the ODIs against New Zealand.
It remains to be seen whether India will opt for two specialist spinners, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy, in the XI if Axar is also in the mix.
Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh
