IND vs NZ 3rd T20I: India's Predicted XI For Series-Decider

High-flying Team India came crashing down on the earth on Saturday (November 4) after New Zealand thoroughly outplayed them to win the second T20I by 40 runs and square the three-match series. Batting first, the visitors rode on Colin Munro‘s blistering century to post a daunting 196 for 2 in the allotted 20 overs. In reply, the hosts never looked in contention to chase down the total and were eventually restricted to 156 for 7, thus suffering their sixth defeat in eight T20I games against the Kiwis.

The outcome of the series will now be decided on Tuesday (November 7) in Thiruvananthapuram as Virat Kohli & Co. will be looking to get back to winning ways and improve their track record against New Zealand in the shortest format of the game/

So here we are taking a look at the playing eleven which India can field in the series-opener:

1. Rohit Sharma:

After scoring 80 in the series-opener, Sharma failed to get going in the second game as he managed just 5 before being sent back by left-arm seamer Trent Boult for just 5. Will be looking to make amends in the series-decider.

2. Shikhar Dhawan:

Just like his opening partner, Dhawan, who too had scored 80 in the first game, failed to make an impact in the second game and was castled by Boult for just 1. The southpaw will be eyeing to give the team a solid start in the series-finale.

3. Virat Kohli:

The best T20I batsman in the world once again proved his worth, scoring a hard-fought 65. However, lack of support from the other end ensured that his effort go in vain.

4. Shreyas Iyer:

The Mumbai star, who did not get a chance to bat on his debut, made a good impression in the second game, scoring 23 and steadying the ship with skipper Virat Kohli after India lost both of their openers cheaply.

5. Dinesh Karthik:

With India’s batsmen struggling to get going in the second game, the team-management will be definitely looking to bolster the batting by including the in-form Dinesh Karthik in the team.

6. MS Dhoni:

The former India skipper scored 49 off 37 balls but his slow start to the innings all but sealed the fate of the game in New Zealand’s favour. He had managed just 17 runs off the first 20 balls he faced when India needed more than 10 runs per over. Will be looking to make amends in the upcoming game.

7. Hardik Pandya:

Indian cricket’s latest sensation, Hardik Pandya‘s poor form against New Zealand continued as he managed just 1 with the bat when the team needed him the most during the chase. Had bowled just one over, conceding 14 runs.

8. Kuldeep Yadav:

With Axar Patel conceding 39 runs off 3 overs in Rajkot, Kuldeep Yadav is likely to return to the playing eleven for the series-decider.

8. Bhuvneshwar Kumar:

Just like others, Bhuvneshwar Kumar also had a tough outing in Rajkot as he went wicketless. However, he managed to keep the scoring-rate under check by conceding 29 runs off his 4 overs.

10. Yuzvendra Chahal:

The leg-spinner was costly, conceding 36 runs off his 4 overs but had given the team the-much needed breakthrough by ending the 105-run partnership between Colin Munro and Martin Guptill.

11. Jasprit Bumrah:

Bumrah did not get any wicket in the second T20I but was still the standout performer with the ball as he conceded just 23 runs off his 4 overs.

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