- India bring in Reddy and Mayank, ask New Zealand to bat in first T20I New Zealand have marked Daryl Mitchell to bat at No.
- 3 and have slotted Bevon Jacobs to bat in the middle order The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 Shane Warne Australia v New Zealand 2nd Test, Day One, at the WACA, Perth, Thursday November 20th 1997 Pollard was part of the squad in each of the five IPL-winning seasons: 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020 Kieron Pollard leads his team on to the field, MI New York vs San Francisco Unicorns, Major League Cricket (MLC), Dallas, July 18, 2024 NZ vs Ind 2nd T20I – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi set to get in as New Zealand and India prepare for another slugfest Dew will likely play a big role again in Christchurch and the team winning the toss will prefer to chase Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will likely open in the second game, New Zealand vs India, 1st T20I, Christchurch, October 22, 2026 India’s batting coach is excited about Naman Dhir’s potential and says Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is learning a lot despite not playing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continued to sit out, New Zealand vs India, 1st T20I, Christchurch, October 22, 2026 Batting in white-ball cricket has become less about where the head is or the feet go and more about what the hands do Pratika Rawal notched up her fourth ODI century, India vs Zimbabwe, 1st ODI, Vadodara, October 23, 2026 NZ A vs Ind A – Rhys Mariu, Henry Nicholls, Ben Lister, Mitch Hay in star-studded New Zealand A squad The New Zealand A squad is of 19 members, but the players will be rotated – 13 will be available for each of the three four-dayers, with the others released to play the Ford Trophy Rhys Mariu drives on his international debut, New Zealand vs Pakistan, 2nd ODI, Hamilton, ril 2, 2025 Shikhar Mohan will replace KL Rahul, who will only play the first four-day match before linking up with the India ODI team Shikhar Mohan hit a half-century for Jharkhand, Vidarbha vs Jharkhand, Ranji Trophy 2025-26, 1st day, Nagpur, October 25, 2025 Rashid Khan finished with 3 for 41, Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, Tri-series final, Sharjah, October 23, 2026 A concussion scare, a troublesome neck and low scores – Steven Smith will want to turn things around at Newlands, which was the scene of the Sandpergate scandal Steven Smith’s neck needed medical attention after he survived a close call in the 27th over, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Australia have lost two of their last four Tests, by crushing margins at that, and the lack of partnerships – or more than one batter standing tall at any given time – has hurt them the most Travis Head fought for Australia after their follow-on, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Simon Harmer celebrates a wicket, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Marnus Labuschagne walks back with his Test career hanging by a thread, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 SA vs Aus, 2nd Test – Through rain, nerves and late drama, South Africa flex their championship mettle The hosts rediscovered their champion spirit, turning adversity into opportunity and belief into a statement win that reshes the series Matthew Breetzke’s juggling catch to dismiss Steven Smith served up this dramatic moment, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, 5th day, October 22, 2026 SA vs Aus 2nd Test 2026-27 – Pat Cummins – Australia can’t ‘per over cracks’ after innings thrashing Australia will need to seriously consider changes to their batting line-up for the deciding Test in Ce Town Steven Smith was out pulling Kagiso Rabada, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, 5th day, October 22, 2026 Rabada’s spirit, Jansen’s performance and Bavuma’s own runs offered a strong response from the WTC champions after going down in Durban last week Temba Bavuma kept it all in and then let it all out when he got to three-figures, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, 3rd day, October 20, 2026 Janith Liyanage celebrates with team-mates after hitting six to win the game off the penultimate ball Janith Liyanage celebrates with team-mates after hitting six to win the game off the penultimate ball, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Harry Brook put himself in illustrious company in Pindi – but the only stat that mattered was his team’s defeat Will Jacks congratulates Harry Brook on his double-century, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Sri Lanka celebrate victory after chasing down 430, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 India ctain Shreyas Iyer has chosen to bowl in the first T20I against New Zealand in Christchurch.
- India are playing this match two days after landing in New Zealand, and less than five days after the fifth T20I of their home series against West Indies, but Iyer said he wasn’t worried about jetlag or lack of preparation.
India bring in Reddy and Mayank, ask New Zealand to bat in first T20I New Zealand have marked Daryl Mitchell to bat at No.
3 and have slotted Bevon Jacobs to bat in the middle order The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 Shane Warne Australia v New Zealand 2nd Test, Day One, at the WACA, Perth, Thursday November 20th 1997 Pollard was part of the squad in each of the five IPL-winning seasons: 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020 Kieron Pollard leads his team on to the field, MI New York vs San Francisco Unicorns, Major League Cricket (MLC), Dallas, July 18, 2024 NZ vs Ind 2nd T20I – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi set to get in as New Zealand and India prepare for another slugfest Dew will likely play a big role again in Christchurch and the team winning the toss will prefer to chase Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will likely open in the second game, New Zealand vs India, 1st T20I, Christchurch, October 22, 2026 India’s batting coach is excited about Naman Dhir’s potential and says Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is learning a lot despite not playing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continued to sit out, New Zealand vs India, 1st T20I, Christchurch, October 22, 2026 Batting in white-ball cricket has become less about where the head is or the feet go and more about what the hands do Pratika Rawal notched up her fourth ODI century, India vs Zimbabwe, 1st ODI, Vadodara, October 23, 2026 NZ A vs Ind A – Rhys Mariu, Henry Nicholls, Ben Lister, Mitch Hay in star-studded New Zealand A squad The New Zealand A squad is of 19 members, but the players will be rotated – 13 will be available for each of the three four-dayers, with the others released to play the Ford Trophy Rhys Mariu drives on his international debut, New Zealand vs Pakistan, 2nd ODI, Hamilton, ril 2, 2025 Shikhar Mohan will replace KL Rahul, who will only play the first four-day match before linking up with the India ODI team Shikhar Mohan hit a half-century for Jharkhand, Vidarbha vs Jharkhand, Ranji Trophy 2025-26, 1st day, Nagpur, October 25, 2025 Rashid Khan finished with 3 for 41, Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, Tri-series final, Sharjah, October 23, 2026 A concussion scare, a troublesome neck and low scores – Steven Smith will want to turn things around at Newlands, which was the scene of the Sandpergate scandal Steven Smith’s neck needed medical attention after he survived a close call in the 27th over, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Australia have lost two of their last four Tests, by crushing margins at that, and the lack of partnerships – or more than one batter standing tall at any given time – has hurt them the most Travis Head fought for Australia after their follow-on, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Simon Harmer celebrates a wicket, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Marnus Labuschagne walks back with his Test career hanging by a thread, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 SA vs Aus, 2nd Test – Through rain, nerves and late drama, South Africa flex their championship mettle The hosts rediscovered their champion spirit, turning adversity into opportunity and belief into a statement win that reshes the series Matthew Breetzke’s juggling catch to dismiss Steven Smith served up this dramatic moment, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, 5th day, October 22, 2026 SA vs Aus 2nd Test 2026-27 – Pat Cummins – Australia can’t ‘per over cracks’ after innings thrashing Australia will need to seriously consider changes to their batting line-up for the deciding Test in Ce Town Steven Smith was out pulling Kagiso Rabada, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, 5th day, October 22, 2026 Rabada’s spirit, Jansen’s performance and Bavuma’s own runs offered a strong response from the WTC champions after going down in Durban last week Temba Bavuma kept it all in and then let it all out when he got to three-figures, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, 3rd day, October 20, 2026 Janith Liyanage celebrates with team-mates after hitting six to win the game off the penultimate ball Janith Liyanage celebrates with team-mates after hitting six to win the game off the penultimate ball, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Harry Brook put himself in illustrious company in Pindi – but the only stat that mattered was his team’s defeat Will Jacks congratulates Harry Brook on his double-century, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Sri Lanka celebrate victory after chasing down 430, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 India ctain Shreyas Iyer has chosen to bowl in the first T20I against New Zealand in Christchurch. India are playing this match two days after landing in New Zealand, and less than five days after the fifth T20I of their home series against West Indies, but Iyer said he wasn’t worried about jetlag or lack of preparation. “No complaints, we’re a bunch of professionals.” India made two changes to their XI from the washed-out Bengaluru T20I against West Indies, bringing in Nitish Kumar Reddy for Shivam Dube in a sw of seam-bowling allrounders – with Reddy likely considered more useful in a match likely to feature far more fast bowling than spin – and bringing in the pacy Mayank Yadav for Prince Yadav in the pace attack.
Allrounders Axar Patel and Naman Dhir made up the spin line-up. New Zealand had some big calls to make including who bats at No. 3 in the injury-enforced absence of Rachin Ravindra, and which of their plethora of seam-bowling oons to pick.
They slotted Daryl Mitchell at No. 3 on their team sheet, and slotted in Bevon Jacobs in the middle order, which meant Devon Conway and Josh Clarkson missed out. They picked four seamers in Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, Adam Milne and Lockie Ferguson, which meant there was no room for Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy or Blair Tickner.
New Zealand : 1 Finn Allen, 2 Tim Seifert (wk), 3 Daryl Mitchell, 4 Glenn Phillips, 5 Bevon Jacobs, 6 Michael Bracewell, 7 Mitchell Santner (ct), 8 Nathan Smith, 9 Matt Henry, 10 Adam Milne, 11 Lockie Ferguson. India : 1 Sanju Samson (wk), 2 Abhishek Sharma, 3 Ishan Kishan, 4 Shreyas Iyer (ct), 5 Tilak Varma, 6 Naman Dhir, 7 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Mayank Yadav New Zealand have marked Daryl Mitchell to bat at No. 3 and have slotted Bevon Jacobs to bat in the middle order story:1559467+ New Zealand have marked Daryl Mitchell to bat at No.
3 and have slotted Bevon Jacobs to bat in the middle order New Zealand have marked Daryl Mitchell to bat at No. 3 and have slotted Bevon Jacobs to bat in the middle order
