NZ vs IND 2022: 3 changes India can make for the final T20I match
The Men in Blue might want to test a few other names.
India began their road to the 2024 T20 World Cup with a win against New Zealand. After the first game was washed out because of rain, the Men in Blue were clinical to defeat the Kiwis by 65 runs to go 1-0 up in the three-match series. India have attained an unassailable lead as they can’t lose the series from here.
There were a couple of surprise inclusions in playing XI in the first game as many were expecting the youngsters to get chances. However, Team India still entrusted the old warhorse Bhuvneshwar Kumar to lead the bowling attack. Surprisingly, the likes of Sanju Samson also didn’t get a chance either despite having a solid series against South Africa.
With only one T20 game left in the series, the Indian team management might opt to bring in a couple of other players in the third game on Tuesday. Hence, in this post, we will take a look at the 3 changes India can make for the final T20I match.
3. Shubman Gill in for Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant was given the chance to open the batting for India in the second T20I game. However, the left-handed batter failed to make the most of the opportunity as he could only score 6 runs off 13 deliveries.
Shubman Gill has been in outstanding form since the previous edition of the Indian Premier League. He has consistently been scoring runs in ODI cricket whenever he has got a chance. Gill averages 57.9 in 12 ODIs he has played at a strike rate of 102.66.
Furthermore, the Punjab batter smoked 260 runs in 6 matches at an average of 52 and a strike rate of 156.62 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2022. The management might look to try him as an opener in the shortest format of the game and he might make his T20I debut in the final game against the Kiwis.
