Guwahati, Jan 24 (.) India will aim to continue its dominance over New Zealand when the two sides meet in the third T20I of the ongoing New Zealand tour of India at Barsapara Cricket Stadium here on Sunday at 7 pm.
Leading the series 2-0, India is on course for a commanding 3-0 series sweep, while New Zealand will look to deliver an upset to keep their hopes alive.
The spotlight is firmly on India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav, who has scored 316 runs in nine T20Is against New Zealand. His consistent form has anchored India’s middle order, and he will be the key to maintaining India’s stronghold in the series.
In the last match in Raipur, Suryakumar scored 82 off 37 balls at a strike rate of 221.62, while Ishan Kishan contributed a quick 76 off 32 balls. Abhishek Sharma’s early-season form, Hardik Pandya’s all-around capabilities, and Sanju Samson’s explosive batting add depth to the Indian lineup.
Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah lead India’s pace attack, with Shivam Dube and Varun Chakravarthy providing additional bowling options. Teams batting first at Barsapara have averaged 185–190 runs, but disciplined bowling and variations in pace remain crucial on this batting-friendly pitch. Historically, teams winning the toss here prefer to bowl first, as chasing has proven slightly easier in previous matches.
New Zealand, meanwhile, continues to experiment with their batting order to identify a settled number three. Daryl Mitchell is expected to consolidate the middle order, while Rachin Ravindra and Mitchell Santner aim to regain form. Kyle Jamieson, recently named in the World Cup squad, will play a pivotal role as a death-overs specialist, supported by Ish Sodhi and Jacob Duffy. Devon Conway will keep wickets, with Glenn Phillips, Tim Robinson, and Mark Chapman providing additional batting depth.
Recent form shows India winning four of their last five T20Is, while New Zealand has won three of their last five matches. Head-to-head records between the two teams in T20Is show India winning 13 of 26 matches, New Zealand 10, and three ending in a tie.
Weather conditions in Guwahati are forecast to be sunny and dry, with temperatures around 26°C, moderate humidity of 52%, and light winds of 6 km/h, providing ideal conditions for cricket.
Teams
India: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana, Axar Patel, Shreyas Iyer
New Zealand: Devon Conway (wk), Tim Robinson, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, James Neesham, Matt Henry, Michael Bracewell, Zakary Foulkes, Bevon Jacobs
With Suryakumar in prime form, India’s balanced squad, and favorable pitch conditions, the hosts are heavily favored to secure a series whitewash. Cricket fans will watch closely to see if New Zealand can produce a last-minute comeback or if India will continue their dominance at Barsapara.
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