Kohli's troops will aim to register their maiden T20 win v New Zealand as series gets underway at the Kotla today
New Zealand in the recent past have looked to be the only team that has troubled India when it comes to playing in coloured clothing. The Kiwis have a flawless 5-0 record against the Men in Blue when it comes to T20 internationals. Today when the two teams meet again at the Ferozeshah Kotla stadium here in the opening encounter of the three-match T20 series, India skipper Virat Kohli would expect his troops to stop the Kiwi winning-run that has lasted over a decade even as Kane Williamson's side tries to extend it further to keep their No. 1 ranking intact.
Ashish Nehra smiles during India's optional practice session on the eve of their first T20 match against New Zealand at the Kotla. Pic/AFP
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No practice for Nehra
Yesterday's practice session being an optional one for Team India, only members like Manish Pandey, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Dinesh Karthik, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Ashish Nehra attended it. While all those present practiced, Nehra, who earlier announced that the first T20 against New Zealand would be his last international match, was seen near the nets towards the end of the practice session and that also to collect an envelope from one of the team officials. Though it is expected that the veteran left-arm seamer will make the playing XI for his last game, there has been some criticism towards the selectors, who by announcing Nehra's name in the squad, have in a way forced the captain to include the pacer in the playing XI. In such a scenario, if Nehra is not included, it could turn out to be an embarrassment for the player as well the selectors.
In India's last T20 series against Australia, Nehra did not get any game and it would require some adjustment for the team management to accommodate the veteran pacer this time. New Zealand look confident of putting up a good show and are not complacent about their unbeaten record against India. Attacking batsman Colin Munro, who scored a fine half century in the series-deciding third and final ODI, felt that New Zealand have been "lucky for the last couple of years to be successful." He is also aware about the ability of India's pace duo Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah, describing them as the "best" new-ball bowlers in the sub-continent.
Kiwis taking no chances
It is not that Williamson's team have had it easy, according to Munro as injuries to their limited-over star performers Mitchell McClenaghan and Luke Ronchi hurt the team combination. "Their absence has been felt but (Tom) Latham has done really well this season. We have got an experienced bowling attack," said Munro. Another player who could help New Zealand's chances is middle-order batsman Ross Taylor whose good form in the ODIs have earned him a recall to the T20I side after being out for over a year.
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