New Zealand vs India 2020: 3rd T20I, Hamilton - New Zealand Predicted XI

As the action of the five-match T20 series shifts from Auckland to Hamilton, there exist two contrasting goals for India and New Zealand. While the Men in Blue would be looking to extend their dominance in the third match after reigning supreme in the first two T20Is. The Kiwis will be hoping for a rapid turnaround of fortunes as they have failed to match their counterparts in both the games.

If Virat Kohli’s men end up claiming the series, they can use the last two games as a means to try out some fringe players.

Also Read: New Zealand vs India 2020: 3rd T20I, Hamilton – Dream 11, Fantasy Tips, Predicted XI, Pitch Report And Injury Update

For the Black Caps, the batting had come together in the first match, but the bowling didn’t.

In the subsequent game, on a wearing pitch, New Zealand decided to bat to take advantage of a deteriorating deck while batting second.

Unfortunately, India’s bowlers didn’t let them off the hook and the hosts ended up with only 132 on the board.

The tourists methodically eased down the pressure applied by the Kiwi bowlers to go 2-0 in the series. Well, it is a do-or-die game for the home side and they need to consider making changes, especially to their bowling line-up.

We take a look at New Zealand Predicted for the third T20I:

Martin Guptill:

Martin Guptill got off to yet another start in the second game, having smashed 33 off 20 that included four fours and two sixes.

The right-hander was beginning to take Shardul Thakur apart before he top-edged a delivery outside off to mid-off. The innings never picked up momentum from thereon.

Colin Munro:

It is a trend that haunted New Zealand in the second match. Colin Munro had to take charge of the innings after Guptill exited relatively earlier than the first match. And as the southpaw was starting to loosen up, he played a rash shot to give the Indian captain Virat Kohli another catch.

Munro departed for 26 off 25 balls contrary to his explosive knock of 59 off 42 in the opening match.

Kane Williamson(c):

Contrary to the first game in which Kane Williamson played his shots rather more freely on his way to a breezy knock of 51, the Kiwi captain never found his stride.

In a bid to release himself from the shackles, the 29-year old played a sweep shot but holed out to deep square leg for 14 off 20 deliveries. Williamson usually comes good in pressure games and the game in Hamilton could be one such occasion.

Ross Taylor:

Ross Taylor continued the trend of Kane Williamson’s miserable stay, having made only 18 off 24 balls.

Taylor finished New Zealand’s innings with a flourish in the last match and was able to find the boundary on somewhat regular basis. But in the seven-wicket loss, the 35-year old couldn’t put the ball over the fence despite trying mighty hard. He would be keen to make amends from the last game.

Tim Seifert(wk):

Due to Tim Seifert’s short cameo of 33 off 26 deliveries, New Zealand’s batsmen gave their bowlers something to defend.

The wicketkeeper-batsman struck two sixes and a four in his brief knock that pushed the hosts past the 130-mark. The think-tank should consider promoting him up the order, considering his short pyrotechnics at the back end of the innings last time around.

Colin De Grandhomme:

The Black Caps desperately needed their power-hitter to step up since the first game. It didn’t matter in the first game as much as it mattered in the second.

And in both the games, De Grandhomme was dismissed cheaply for single figures. In the do or die game in Hamilton, De Grandhomme has to hit the top gear with the bat.

Mitchell Santner:

Mitchell Santner was one of the most economical bowlers in Kiwis’ loss to the Men in Blue in the second T20.

The left-arm spinner conceded only 19 runs from four overs. Santner did manage to keep it tight, but couldn’t buy the much-needed wickets to derail the Indian batting line-up.

Tim Southee:

New Zealand’s experienced pace spearhead brought upon a much-improved bowling performance in the second match.

The seamer went wicketless for 48 runs in four overs, but bounced back to finish with two wickets for 20 runs in less than four overs.

Southee did his job, but the Kiwis would be hoping slightly more from him and to inspire the rest of the bowlers.

Ish Sodhi:

Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi has managed to pick up three wickets in two matches. But more often he has bowled without any discipline and has conceded a lot of boundary balls.

In the previous game, he managed to dismiss Shreyas Iyer. However, by that time, India had almost won the game.

Blair Tickner:

Blair Tickner went wicketless in the second encounter before snapping the wicket of Virat Kohli in the first. With his fast pace short-pitched deliveries, Tickner managed to unsettle the batsmen.

However, he couldn’t trouble them enough to bag a wicket or two. The speedster is still expected to retain his place.

Scott Kuggeleijn:

New Zealand may have missed a trick in the last match itself by not bringing in Scott Kuggeleijn for Hamish Bennett.

The latter, despite finishing as the leading wicket-taker in the T20 domestic competition, hasn’t been able to pick up even a single wicket in two games.

If New Zealand wants to keep the series alive, they must make this one change to their eleven.

Also Read: New Zealand vs India 2020: 3rd T20I, Hamilton – Match Prediction