After three consecutive home series wins, India will look to complete the quartet as they take on New Zealand in a 3 T20I rubber, starting Friday in Ranchi.
Despite the 3-0 thrashing over the Kiwis in the ODIs, both teams look equally strong given that both will be missing some of their senior and multi-format players due to rest and injuries.
While this T20I series may not be of much significance given the other two formats are of more importance this year, a number of fringe players and a few out-of-touch players would look for opportunities to showcase their skill and talent.
Here are the 3 Indian players who the fans will keep their eyes on:
Suryakumar Yadav
There has rarely been a batsman who has shown the kind of form, dominance, and range-hitting for such a long period and across all conditions in T20Is that Suryakumar Yadav has ever since he made his T20I debut in March 2021: in his 45 T20I career so far, SKY averages 46 and has struck at 180 with 3 hundreds and 13 fifties.
Suryakumar Yadav is bringing people to the stadiums, who are chanting “Surya Surya” on top of their lungs. Suryakumar Yadav, who was named the ICC Men’s T20I Player of the Year 2022, has already smashed a century this year, against Sri Lanka. Late last year, he’d smash a century in New Zealand. And who – bar the New Zealand bowlers – would grudge Suryakumar Yadav more time in the middle?
Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya – the player who is touted to take over the T20I captaincy soon; the all-rounder who adds a much-vaunted balance to the Indian team, and without whom the side can fall apart and become imbalanced; the cricketer who has been phenomenal all-round form since his return last year.
In this 3 T20I series, Pandya will look to better his numbers against New Zealand: in 10 T20Is against New Zealand, Pandya averages only 15 with the bat and has a strike rate of 117 and taken 4 wickets.
Umran Malik
Arguably India’s fastest-ever bowler – in recorded data, Umran Malik has delivered the fastest balls by an Indian. In 9 T20Is, Malik has taken 6 wickets. Importantly, he’s being prepared by the management for the 2024 T20 WC and has gradually shown progress in terms of his control of line and lengths. But for the 23-year-old tearaway speedster, there is a long way to go before he cements his place in the T20I XI.
Umran Malik took 7 wickets in 3 matches vs Sri Lanka. But the New Zealand batters are better equipped to face high pace than the Lankan batters were. This is a good opportunity for Malik to prove himself against a tougher opponent. The fans, too, will excitedly watch the youngster run in and deliver thunderbolts.
