Christchurch, October 22, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl first against New Zealand in the opening T20 International at Hagley Oval on Thursday, bringing fast bowler Mayank Yadav and seam-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy back into the playing XI.
Mayank and Nitish replaced Prince Yadav and Shivam Dube, respectively. The match also marks the first T20I appearance in New Zealand for both returning players.
The series opener is the first T20I meeting between the sides since this year’s T20 World Cup final in Ahmedabad, where India defeated New Zealand to retain the title on home soil.
India arrived in New Zealand after a rain-abandoned series decider against the West Indies in Bengaluru, leaving the team with a short turnaround before the opening match.
Explaining his decision at the toss, Iyer said he wanted to assess the pitch and the bounce it might offer. He added that the squad had adjusted to the weather, time difference and local conditions despite the limited preparation time.
Iyer also highlighted India’s batting performances against the West Indies, pointing to the team’s ability to post scores of 230 and 250 in several matches. He acknowledged the challenges faced by the bowlers on small grounds and flat pitches but praised their character.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said his side would also have preferred to bowl first but decided to bat after assessing the fresh surface. He said the players were excited about the series and backed the team’s depth, particularly in the middle order.
Santner also praised Bevon Jacobs for the power he brings to the batting line-up.
Playing XIs
India: Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh and Mayank Yadav.
New Zealand: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wicketkeeper), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Bevon Jacobs, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (captain), Nathan Smith, Adam Milne, Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson.
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