New Zealand Playing 11 vs Sri Lanka- 1st T20I, Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand 2024-25

New Zealand and Sri Lanka will be eyeing a winning start to the T20I series when they lock horns against each other in the first game of the three-match series this week. The first game is scheduled to be played at the Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui on Saturday (December 28).

The upcoming series will be New Zealand's second home T20I series and they will be looking to win it. In the first T20I series of the year at home earlier this year, the Black Caps had suffered a 3-0 loss at the hands of Australia.

They will now be looking to make amends in the upcoming series against Sri Lanka. With the Kiwis and Sri Lanka gearing up for the first T20I, we are taking a look at the New Zealand Playing 11 for the upcoming game.

New Zealand Playing 11 vs Sri Lanka- 1st T20I, Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand 2024-25

Openers: Tim Robinson, Rachin Ravindra

Tim Robinson and Rachin Ravindra are likely to be the openers in New Zealand Playing 11 for the first game. Robinson had played in both the T20Is against Sri Lanka last month and could only register scores of 3 and 0.

Recently, he impressed in domestic cricket while playing for Wellington. The wicketkeeper-batsman scored 92 and 9 against Central Districts before scoring 35 and 35 against Auckland in his last competitive match.

On the other hand, Ravindra last played during the three-match Test series against England at home. The highly-rated batsman had a disappointing series against England as he could not reach fifty even once in six innings. Ravindra will be looking to bounce back and deliver a good performance against Sri Lanka.

Middle-order batsmen and allrounders: Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Bevon Jacobs, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner

Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, and Bevon Jacobs will be the batting options in the New Zealand Playing 11 while the likes of Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, and captain Mitchell Santner will be the all-rounders.

Mitchell scored two half-centuries during the series against England and will be eyeing more success in the forthcoming series. Chapman last played during the first-class game against Wellington and was out for 27 and 2.

Jacobs recently impressed against Sri Lanka in the first warm-up game, scoring 39 off 16 balls with the help of 2 fours and 4 sixes. Phillips also played in all three Tests against England and registered one fifty in addition to taking a wicket.

In his last competitive game, Bracewell represented Wellington against Auckland in the Plunket Shield. He scored 18 runs and picked up 6 wickets including a five-wicket haul in the second innings.

On the other hand, Santner played in only the last Test against England and had a stunning outing. With the bat, he scored 76 and 49 runs while with the ball, he picked up 7 wickets.

Bowlers: Nathan Smith, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry

With the likes of Santner, Phillips, and Bracewell good spin bowling options, the home side is likely to include three pacers in the 11. Matt Henry is likely to lead the attack and will have the company of Nathan Smith and Zak Foulkes.