India’s T20I series against New Zealand is vital to fine-tune plans and solve important questions before T20 World Cup 2026.
Since the end of the T20 World Cup 2024, India have been the most successful T20I side among the Test-playing nations, registering 27 victories in 36 matches at a win-loss ratio of 5.40. The two-time world champions have also been particularly dominant at home, winning 10 of their 12 T20Is on familiar conditions.
Those two defeats came against England and South Africa in Rajkot and Cuttack, respectively. Under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, India have been impressive across all three departments of the game. However, recent injuries to Tilak Varma and Washington Sundar have slightly disrupted their preparations. That said, there remain a few areas where the Men in Blue could improve.
Read More: How teams have bowled phase-wise in T20Is post T20 WC 2024 (Test-playing nations)
India need to address opening combination
India continue to struggle with their opening combination. The issue isn’t with Abhishek Sharma, who remains the second leading run-getter in T20Is among the Test-playing nations since the beginning of 2025. The southpaw has collected 859 runs in 21 innings at a strike rate of 193.46, thanks to five fifties and one century.
On the eve of the opening T20I against New Zealand, Suryakumar Yadav confirmed that Sanju Samson would open with Abhishek, with Ishan Kishan batting at number three. The Kerala batter has managed 454 runs in 14 innings at a strike rate of 181.60 while opening the batting since the end of T20 World Cup 2024. The BCCI may think of giving Samson the first three T20Is at the opening spot, and the last two to Kishan if fit-again Tilak Varma returns to the XI.
Additionally, Suryakumar Yadav needs more runs under his belt. The eyes will be on their captain’s form. Suryakumar has managed only 218 runs in 19 T20I innings at 13.62 with no fifty since the beginning of 2025. When it comes to his performance at home, the average drops to 6.88 for 62 runs at a strike rate of 108.77. He was great with 717 runs in IPL 2025 for the Mumbai Indians. The right-handed batter maintained a strong average of 65.18 and a strike rate of 167.91. But that form has dipped currently. It will be vital for the captain to get runs under his belt in the five-match T20I series against the Blackcaps.
Rinku Singh needs game time
Since the end of the T20 World Cup in June 2024, Rinku Singh has featured in only 14 T20I innings. The southpaw has managed 194 runs in that period at an average of 21.55 and a strike rate of 140.57, with one fifty to his name. Of those, 145 runs have come in 12 innings while batting between numbers five and seven, at a strike rate of 127.19.
Rinku also endured a below-par IPL 2025 season for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), scoring just 206 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 153.73, with an unbeaten 38 as his highest score. As a result, the New Zealand series will be crucial for the 28-year-old to gain valuable match practice. After all, batting lower down the order and making an impact in limited deliveries is never an easy task.
Read More: How teams have batted phase-wise in T20Is post T20 WC 2024 (Test-playing nations)
Will India go with three spinners?
The final decision for India revolves around whether they want to go with a third spin-bowling option or retain a pace-heavy attack. With Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel certain starters, the call essentially comes down to Kuldeep Yadav or Arshdeep Singh, making it about being crystal clear on their bowling combination.
Varun Chakravarthy has been the leading T20I wicket-taker among Test-playing nations since the end of the previous T20 World Cup. He has bagged 53 wickets in this process at an economy rate of 7.22 with a strike rate of 10.7. Axar Patel, the new vice-captain, is the second spinner of the side, having bagged 24 T20I wickets at an economy of 6.96 since 30 June 2024.
In the pace department, Arshdeep Singh remains India’s second-highest wicket-taker with 31 T20I wickets in 19 innings. Jasprit Bumrah has played only 13 games of the shortest format in that period. In terms of the bowling unit, Bumrah and Varun remain the two top players. Hardik Pandya is the side’s premier all-rounder, while India continue to go with Shivam Dube in the eleven, leaving them with five bowling options.
That leaves the management with a choice between Kuldeep Yadav and Arshdeep Singh. Kuldeep has collected 21 T20I wickets at 10.23 in the same period. However, he struggled to find the right line and length in the ODI series against the Blackcaps. If the management wants to have the third spin-bowling option, they may also get one or two overs from part-timer Abhishek.
Apart from these, the eyes will be on the captain’s form. Suryakumar Yadav has managed only 218 runs in 19 T20I innings at 13.62 with no fifty since the beginning of 2025. When it comes to his performance at home, the average drops further to 6.88 for 62 runs at a strike rate of 108.77.
The opening game of the five-match T20I series against New Zealand will begin on January 21 at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur.
