Teams Status
India
After a disappointing World Cup campaign on foreign soil, India return to the comfort of home to get back to winning ways.
In New Zealand they face a side that made it all the way to the final of the recently concluded T20, taking down red hot England in the semis before falling at the final hurdle to Australia.
India, meanwhile, suffered a nightmare start to their World Cup campaign, losing back-to-back matches and even though their form improved significantly from there on, it proved too late.
The series would officially mark the start of the Rohit Sharma era in Indian cricket. The opening batsman has been handed over the captaincy armband following Virat Kohli’s relinquishment but it isn’t clear for how long.
India will be without several regulars for the series. All of Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, and Mohammed Shami are sitting out.
New Zealand
The mood in the Kiwi camp would likely be somber as they recently lost their second chance in three years to win their first-ever limited overs World Cup.
They couldn’t beat Australia and it doesn’t get any easier for them because beating India in India is one of the toughest assignments in world cricket.
The fact that they’d be without their captain Kane Williamson for the entire series makes the task more difficult for them.
In the absence of Williamson, who has been rested for the red-ball series of the tour, the Kiwis will be led by Tim Southee.
However, Lockie Ferguson, who missed the entire World Cup due to an injury, should be fit to participate in the series against India.
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