India's Predicted XI vs New Zealand, 1st T20I: Will Kuldeep Yadav Get A Chance?

After claiming a 3-0 clean sweep in the ODIs against New Zealand, Team India is all set to take on the same rivals in a three-match T20I series, starting from Friday

After claiming a 3-0 clean sweep in the ODIs against New Zealand, Team India is all set to take on the same rivals in a three-match T20I series, starting from Friday. With the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli being rested, all-rounder Hardik Pandya will once again be donning the captain's cap, with Suryakumar Yadav as his deputy. The hosts had thrashed Sri Lanka 2-1 in the three-match T20Is, earlier this month under Hardik's captaincy. With Prithvi Shaw getting named in the squad, it will be interesting to see who will be sealing a spot in the Playing XI for the first T20I match on Friday in Ranchi.

Here's our predicted India XI for the first T20I:

Shubman Gill: The 23-year-old right-hander impressed everyone with his heroics in the ODI series against New Zealand, where he bagged the Player of the Series award. However, in the last T20Is against Sri Lanka, Gill could only manage scores like 7, 5, and 46 but he is definitely capable of playing a bigger innings.

Ishan Kishan: In the absence of Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan holds the responsibility of wicketkeeping. Apart from this, he is known for playing powerful knocks but he miserably failed in the recent T20Is against Sri Lanka.

Suryakumar Yadav: The star batter entertained everyone with his brilliant century against Sri Lanka in the third T20I match. Surya took just 51 balls and played an unbeaten knock of 112* runs to join the elite of batters with three or more tons in the shortest format.