Sat Jan 24 06:00:00 UTC 2026: ### India Eyes Series Win Against New Zealand in Third T20I
The Story:
India is set to face New Zealand in the third T20I of a five-match series at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Sunday. Having won the first two matches, the Indian team aims to secure the series with a victory. Meanwhile, New Zealand, led by Mitchell Santner, will be looking to bounce back and stay in contention. Potential changes in India’s playing XI are anticipated based on player fitness and performance.
Key Points:
- The third T20I between India and New Zealand is scheduled for Sunday at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, starting at 7:00 PM Indian Standard Time.
- India has won the first two matches and seeks to clinch the series with a win in this match.
- Axar Patel’s potential return from injury could lead to Kuldeep Yadav being benched.
- Jasprit Bumrah’s possible inclusion in the playing XI might result in Arshdeep Singh or Harshit Rana being dropped.
- Arshdeep Singh proved expensive in the second T20I, conceding 53 runs in 4 overs.
- Possible India squad: Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper), Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana/Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav/Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy. Other players named in the broader squad include Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer.
Key Takeaways:
- India has a strong opportunity to secure the T20I series against New Zealand with a win in the upcoming match.
- Player fitness and recent performance are key factors influencing the composition of India’s playing XI.
- The performance of bowlers like Arshdeep Singh is under scrutiny, potentially impacting team selection decisions.
First Piper 