IND vs WI 2nd ODI
Photo Credit: (Twitter)

Team India will kick off their white-ball series against New Zealand with the first T20I set to be played in Wellington on Friday. The tour consists of three T20Is and three ODIs between November 18 and 30. Indian star all-rounder Hardik Pandya will lead the team in the absence of senior stars like KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma in the shorter format.

Young players like Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Mohammad Siraj, and Umran Malik have been selected by the Indian selectors, along with Harshal Patel, who is a member of India’s T20 World Cup 2022 squad. The Indian selectors have picked the squad in the middle of the World Cup and have made it clear that they are looking ahead, regardless of the team’s performance at the event.

India vs New Zealand 1st T20I 2022 NZ vs IND
Photo Credit: (Facebook/New Zealand Cricket)

It’s A Strong Line Up Without The Senior Players – Jonty Rhodes

Former South African batter Jonty Rhodes believes that India has “some great players” and that playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) has put them in good stead.

“The current crop that is in New Zealand is a fairly young team and there are some great players in the line up. And because of the success of the IPL you certainly have an amazing platform to showcase their skill,” Rhodes said.

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Jonty Rhodes
Jonty Rhodes (Image: Twitter)

“You look at the T20 squad selected just after the T20 World Cup, that gives a good indication of the ability of some of the players. It’s a strong line up without the senior players,” he added.

They Work And Train With Some Of The Best Players And Coaches In The World – Jonty Rhodes

England beat Pakistan by five wickets in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) to lift their second T20 World Cup trophy and end a 12-year wait. Rhodes believes that playing in the IPL has given overseas players from England, Australia, and South Africa valuable experience and helped improve their game.

England National Cricket Team
England National Cricket Team. Pic Credits: Twitter.

“You spend a lot of time in India during the IPL format and even if the players are not playing all the matches, they are participating in conditions that was difficult for them before. They work and train with some of the best players and coaches in the world, that sort of experience helps grow their game just by asking questions,” he said.

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