IND vs NZ 1st T20I 2026: Predicting the Best Possible Playing XI for Both Teams

Team India has lost another series at home against the Blackcaps. After a 0-3 drubbing against them back in December 2024, the Men in Blue have now lost the ODI series as well against a second-fiddle New Zealand side 1-2. The two teams now gear up for the shortest format of the game, i.e., the T20Is in a five-match series slated to commence on January 21 at Nagpur.

After the Nagpur game, the action will move to Raipur, followed by Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, and Thiruvananthapuram. This is the final assignment for both teams ahead of the marquee event, i.e., the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, slated to get underway on February 7. Both teams will look to give their best in this series and try all possible combinations that they can rely on during the mega event.

Let’s delve deep down for this series and discuss what could be the best possible XI for both these teams for the IND vs NZ 1st T20I.

Key Takeaways from the Indian Squad

• Vice-captain Shubman Gill dropped owing to poor form.
• Ishan Kishan was bestowed with a place in the T20I squad after a fabulous stint during the Vijay Hazare Trophy as the skipper of the victorious Jharkhand side.
• Tilak Varma to remain unavailable for the first three games as he recovers from a surgery he had for testicular torsion.
• Shreyas Iyer returned to the squad after a long time as a replacement for Tilak Varma.
• Washington Sundar also ruled out of the series due to a side strain. He has been replaced by Ravi Bishnoi.
• Rinku Singh returned to the squad after being axed from the squad without any reason during the home series against South Africa.
• Usual suspects Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah return to the squad after getting rested during the ODI series against New Zealand.

Best Possible XI IND vs NZ 1st T20I:

• Openers: Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson are expected to open. Abhishek’s aggressive left-handed stroke play complements Samson’s flair and ability to anchor innings.
• Middle Order: Captain Suryakumar Yadav will slot in at No. 3, bringing his trademark 360-degree batting. He will be followed by Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, and Shivam Dube. This middle order offers both stability and explosive finishing power. There could be room for Shreyas Iyer at no. 4, but with the head coach more inclined towards all-rounders, expect this to be the lineup.
• Bowling Attack: Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh will spearhead the pace department. Bumrah’s yorkers and Arshdeep’s left-arm angle provide variety. In spin, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, and Axar Patel form a potent trio, capable of exploiting Nagpur’s surface that tends to assist spinners as the game progresses.

Indian Predicted XI:

Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah

Key Takeaways from New Zealand Squad

• Skipper Mitchell Santner returns to lead the side in this series. He was rested during the ODIs.
• Along with Santner, the likes of Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, Tim Robinson, Rachin Ravindra, and Mark Chapman have also returned to complete the full-strength squad of the Blackcaps.
• Michael Bracewell, who sustained a calf strain in the final ODI, is doubtful for this fixture.
• Adam Milne, who represented Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the ongoing SA20, got his hamstring injured in SEC’s final league game of the season against the reigning champions, MI Cape Town. He has possibly been ruled out of this series.
• Kristan Clarke, who ended up with the most scalps in the recently concluded ODI series against India, has been asked to stay back for the T20Is as well.

Best Possible XI IND vs NZ 1st T20I:

• Openers: Devon Conway, the wicketkeeper, will open alongside Tim Robinson. Conway’s consistency and Robinson’s attacking instincts set the tone.
• Middle Order: Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, and Glenn Phillips form a strong core. Ravindra’s versatility, Chapman’s left-handed aggression, and Mitchell’s reliability add balance, while Phillips is a proven match-winner in T20 cricket.
• All-Rounder & Captain: Mitchell Santner will lead from the front, offering control with the ball and handy runs down the order.
• Bowling Attack: Kyle Jamieson and Matt Henry provide pace and bounce, while Ish Sodhi’s leg-spin and Jacob Duffy’s seam round off the attack. This mix of pace and spin gives New Zealand options to counter India’s batting-heavy lineup.

New Zealand Predicted XI:

Devon Conway (WK), Tim Robinson, Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner (C), Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy

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