NZ VS IND 1ST T20I

Update 1320 IST (0750 GMT) - Persistent rain means there is only one conclusion. THE MATCH HAS BEEN ABANDONED DUE TO RAIN. There was never hope for a start and now the fans will return back without seeing any action. That's it from here then, the 2nd T20I will be played on the 20th of this month at 12 pm IST (6.30 am GMT). Join us for the build up as well. Cheers. 

Update - 1238 IST (0708 GMT) - Nothing new to update, the rain continues to fall and any chance of us having some action is fading away. All we can do is keep our fingers crossed and hope.

Ish Sodhi is up for a chat. He says the schedule is tight and tough but it is exciting to play against India and it motivates them. Adds it is a unique place to play. Feels they are a young team and can develop further. Reckons luck plays a big role in T20, varying lines is also important. 

Update - 1145 IST (0615 GMT) - Just when we thought we were close to a piece of positive news, it has started to drizzle again. 

As expected, the toss has been delayed due to rain. The rain has currently stopped. Let's hope for some good news now.

It's raining currently at Wellington but let's hope the rain gods make way for some cricket. Stay tuned for updates. 

India will be playing under the leadership of Hardik Pandya in this series! The big names like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Rahul have not travelled. The young guns, Ishan Kishan, Umran Malik and a few others are making a comeback and they have a chance to show what they are capable of. New Zealand on the other hand have more or less the similar side which featured for them in the World Cup. They are favourties heading into this fixture but India can never be ruled out.

Two sides knocked out of the semi finals in the recently concluded T20 World Cup will now battle each other few days after it in a three game T20I series and that is followed by a three match ODI series. India will be taking on New Zealand and these two teams usually provide absolute crackers. This is one series you would not want to miss. Welcome to the coverage.

... MATCH DAY ...

There is no time to rest now. It has been just 5 days since the conclusion of the 2022 T20 World Cup and we already have an enticing series coming our way. Rather than travelling home, India head straight down to Wellington for their series against New Zealand. This series will start off with a 3-match T20I series which will be followed by three ODIs as well. During the T20 World Cup, India got eliminated in the semi-finals against England. India do not have much time to concentrate on their upsets and would be hoping to come back out on the field and recreate the same energy as they always do. Similarly, the Kiwis also slipped out in the semis and would be hoping to turn around a corner this time around. Both the teams have a knack of putting up exciting performances whenever they meet. Both these time have a point to prove here. A very important note that Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul will be skipping this trip as they have given rest. Also, the head coach, Rahul Dravid also heads out for a break and it will VVS Laxman who will act as a head coach in his absence. Hardik Pandya will be leading the T20I squad with Shikhar Dhawan taking up the captaincy role in ODIs.Let us shift our focus to the 1st T20I match between the two. India look to be a formidable side with the presence of Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson up top. Their bowling department also looks to be quite balanced with presence of Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel and Umran Malik, with Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav in the spin department. For New Zealand, it looks like Finn Allen has sealed his spot at the top and would be brimming with confidence after a solid outing in the World Cup. He will be hoping to make a positive impact in home conditions against a tough opposition. This has certainly affected Martin Guptill's spot in the side but this does not mean he will never find his place in the squad. But by keeping Allen in the squad, the Kiwis are surely making a intention of nurturing the younger talent and focus on the future generations. Shockingly, Trent Boult also has been left out of the squad but only because the selectors wanted to prioratize the central contract holders. So, it will Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson and Blair Tickner handling the pace department with Ish Sodhi taking care of spin. With the quality of player in both sides, this encounter will be nothing less than a cracker. Will India be able to start the series by putting the right foot forward? Or will Kane Williamson's men dominate in home conditions? We shall find out together.

The preview will be available shortly.