The Rishabh Pant conundrum is a headscratcher that can make or break their season 

Axar Patel

Rishabh Pant

David Warner

Rovman Powell

Mitchell Marsh

Rilee Rossouw

Sarfaraz Khan

Luvnith Sisodia

Manish Pandey

Philip Salt

Prithvi Shaw

Indian Premier League, 2023

Delhi Capitals

Can Delhi Capitals tackle Rishabh Pant’s absence or is it an irreparable loss?

IPL 2023 is all set to shape India’s bowling attack for the next T20 World Cup

Harshal Patel

T Natarajan

Rahul Chahar

Jasprit Bumrah

Ravichandran Ashwin

Washington Sundar

Ravi Bishnoi

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Avesh Khan

India

Judgement Day beckons India’s bowlers as road to 2024 T20WC begins

It is a fitting battle of the top two sides, as Mumbai and Delhi take each other on in the inaugural WPL final

Harmanpreet Kaur

Issy Wong

Pooja Vastrakar

Natalie Sciver-Brunt

Marizanne Kapp

Women's Premier League, 2023

Mumbai Indians

Charged Capitals eye inaugural WPL trophy against revitalized Mumbai

IPL, international cricket or other franchise leagues – we’ve got it all covered in our latest newsletter

Ricky Ponting

Meg Lanning

Mukesh Choudhary

Mohsin Khan

Ashton Agar

Sophie Devine

Australia tour of India, 2023

Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand, 2023

Netherlands tour of Zimbabwe, 2023

Afghanistan and Pakistan tour of UAE, 3 T20I Series, 2023

Australia

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Lucknow Super Giants

The Cricket.com Weekly - Edition 23

Lucknow might have the most-balanced XI but one thing we have learned from the last 15 seasons is that IPL is not won on paper

KL Rahul

Quinton de Kock

Nicholas Pooran

Naveen-ul-Haq

Mark Wood

Jaydev Unadkat

Yash Thakur

IPL 2023 Preview: Rahul’s ‘strike rate’ could make or break LSG’s campaign

2022 was a season to forget for Mumbai, but by the looks of it, 2023 may not be very different

Jofra Archer

Jason Behrendorff

Jhye Richardson

Rohit Sharma

Suryakumar Yadav

IPL 2023: Mumbai brace for a turbulent season 

All talks ahead of the T20 World Cup were on <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/11803/suryakumar-yadav/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Suryakumar Yadav</a>. Despite all his accolades in such a short span of time in international cricket, some refused to believe his prowess in the shortest format. But what the right-handed did in the World Cup, against South Africa, perhaps was one of the biggest reasons why he is hailed as a match-winner.&nbsp;Immediately after the global tournament too, the right-hander was in scintillating form, with a 111* against New Zealand in the second T20I. Former Australian speedster, Brett Lee who is spending a fair time in the commentary box, backed the talented 360-degree player to win a World Cup for India pretty soon.&nbsp;&quot;India did not win the T20 World Cup by the SKY rose. Of course, I am talking about Suryakumar Yadav. He is the new global T20 superstar. What a sensational 12-15 months he has had on the big stage. He has shown here on Australian grassy wickets where the ball skids through. His fearlessness, his shot selection is like a chess grandmaster. His execution is awe-inspiring and the smile on his face when he played it, it is priceless,&quot; Lee said on his YouTube channel.Just this year alone, the right-hander has amassed 1164 runs, with an average of 46.6 and a hefty strike-rate of 187.4 but what is outright scary, is that Suryakumar is a middle-order batter. Such numbers have been seldom seen with a middle-order batter in the yesteryears of international cricket.&nbsp;Unlike other pundits, Lee does not have any advise for the right-hander. All he has for Suryakumar is &ldquo;keep doing what you are doing&rdquo;.&nbsp;&quot;SKY was one of the highlights for me at the T20 World Cup. He continues to bat with the same attitude. Not only will he score big runs but he will also someday win a World Cup for Team India. I love watching him play. My advice to SKY would be&hellip; no advice. Keep doing what you are doing, don&#39;t change, don&#39;t complicate things, back yourself.&quot;On Suryakumar&rsquo;s outrageous technique, Lee stated that it is quite impossible for someone to play like that. Having said that, Lee believes that the pair of Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma would let the player only bloom more in the coming years.&nbsp;&quot;I like the way he executes the impossible shots because his basics are in place. He doesn&#39;t go out there and just try to hit ball that aren&#39;t there to hit. He has a wonderful technique and he is definitely a player for the future. You can trust Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma to just let him be the person he needs to be. The SKY would rise and this could lead to many more peaks for India in years to come,&quot; he added.Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

Brett Lee also weighted his opinion on the Mumbaikar’s execution

Brett Lee

India tour of New Zealand, 2022

Suryakumar will win a World Cup for India soon: Lee

New Zealand pacer <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/4235/tim-southee/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tim Southee</a> was full of praise for <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/11803/suryakumar-yadav/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Suryakumar Yadav</a> who scored a stunning 111 not out off 51 balls in the <a href="https://www.cricket.com/match-score/213901/articles/nz-vs-ind-2nd-t20i-india-tour-of-new-zealand-2022" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">second T20I at the Bay Oval</a> on Sunday.Southee&#39;s second T20I hat-trick, where he removed India captain <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/63751/hardik-pandya/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hardik Pandya</a>, <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/63748/deepak-hooda/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deepak Hooda</a> and <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/65859/washington-sundar/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Washington Sundar</a> in the 20th over, was upstaged by Suryakumar&#39;s scintillating knock which had 11 boundaries and seven sixes.Southee had faced Suryakumar several times in the IPL over the years and knew about the righthander&#39;s ability to hit the ball into unmanned areas of the ground.India scored 57 off the 17th, 18th and 19th overs, with Suryakumar taking India from 129/3 after 16 overs to 191/6 in 20 overs.Southee felt that the hundred was the difference between both sides.&quot;Anytime a T20 player gets a hundred in a match, it&#39;s quite often the difference. You look at the rest of the side and the way we sort of batted, his innings was miles apart from anything else we saw today. Probably made them get to a score that was probably a little bit more than what we were hoping for. It was an exceptional innings and it was the difference between restricting India to 175-180 and then getting above 190,&quot; Southee said in the post-match press conference.The Black Caps didn&#39;t threaten the Indian batters in the powerplay. By the time they managed to remove openers <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/64712/ishan-kishan/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ishan Kishan</a> and <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/65756/rishabh-pant/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rishabh Pant</a> it was already 10th over of the innings and 69 runs were on the board.&quot;There&#39;s been a number of great T20 players from India. They produce so many good cricketers. Sky&#39;s had a great 12 months. It&#39;s there for him to continue to do so and continue to play the way he has. But you look at guys that have played for a long period of time and achieved so much over a long period of time ... India have always produced amazing cricketers not only in T20 cricket but across all three formats,&quot; Southee said added on Suryakumar.Sunday&#39;s innings was also Suryakumar&#39;s second T20I hundred in less than four months.&quot;He&#39;s a player that can hit you and hurt you in a number of areas. He&#39;s had a great 12-18 months in IPL, international cricket. Came up against a pretty impressive knock today. The guys will reassess and come up with something for Napier,&quot; Southee said.Their chasing also had a start-stop nature to it as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Despite captain <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/4330/kane-williamson/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kane Williamson</a> (61 off 52 balls) accelerating at the end, it was too late and the hosts slumped to a 65-run defeat.&quot;Anytime it looked like it was about to get going, we lost a wicket. That&#39;s credit to the way India bowled. They had a decent score on the board. If you&#39;re able to take regular wickets and early wickets, then that makes that score even bigger. Just not able to get going and when you&#39;re chasing a score like that, you need to blunt it with a decent partnership at some stage,&quot; Southee said.When asked about his hat-trick, Southee brushed off the achievement as he felt the urgency in the death overs makes things easier for bowlers.&quot;It&#39;s nice...I got a bit lucky there in the last over and that can happen. Another day, they&#39;d disappear over the fence and go for six. It&#39;s nice when that happens but it all starts again in a day or two&#39;s time. It&#39;s part of cricket,&quot; Southee said.India are leading the three-match series 1-0 after the first T20I was washed out due to rain. The third and final T20I will be played on Tuesday (November 22) in Napier.Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

Tim Southee claimed his second hat-trick on Sunday against India, but it did not amount to much as the hosts lost the game by 65 runs

Tim Southee

Hardik Pandya

New Zealand

Suryakumar is a player that can hurt you in number of areas: Southee

<a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/4330/kane-williamson/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kane Williamson</a> might want to continue playing all three formats, but New Zealand will be better served without him in T20Is, at least his recent numbers suggest so. The 32-year-old is an inspirational leader, however, he has been way below par with the bat for quite a while. Amongst batters from the top-10 ranked T20I nations, Williamson has the fifth-worst strike rate in this format since 2021 (minimum 500 deliveries), which tells the entire story.The right-hander is averaging 33.68 in this time frame but most of his knocks have done more harm than good to his team. And, his 52-ball 61 in the 192-run chase against India in the second T20I on Sunday (November 20) was no different. The No. 3 batter was the second-highest run-scorer in the game and still got a rating of just 2.73 <a href="https://www.cricket.com/criclytics/213901/nz-vs-ind-2nd-t20i-india-tour-of-new-zealand-2022/report-card" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">according to the Criclytics Report Card</a>.&nbsp;The Bay Oval surface was a bit tacky but India managed to post a challenging total thanks to Suryakumar Yadav&rsquo;s 51-ball 111*. The target got, even tougher when the Black Caps lost Finn Allen in the very first over, and with the ball moving a bit, the onus fell on the shoulders of Devon Conway and Williamson to forge a partnership and put some pressure back on India.<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1668952056113-articleimg" style="width: 700px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"> The two did put on 56 runs for the second wicket but wasted almost eight overs to score those runs. Williamson, in particular, was on 12 off 19 deliveries at the end of six overs and this has been the case with him for two years now. His strike rate of 87.1 in the powerplay since 2021 is the second-worst after Temba Bavuma&rsquo;s 85.4. Even in IPL 2022, Williamson&rsquo;s strike rate in the first six overs was a mere 76.4.The only reason he ended up with a strike rate of 117.31 in the second T20I was because he managed to hit Mohammed Siraj for a six and a four off consecutive deliveries in the 18th over but the game was well and truly dead by then. The likes of Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, and James Neesham had no other option but to hit from ball one but it was always going to be difficult on this surface.&nbsp;Williamson clearly struggled against Bhuvneshwar Kumar with the new ball and didn&rsquo;t even try to put any pressure on Yuzvendra Chahal and Deepak Hooda. He has a strike rate of just 108.1 against spin in T20Is since 2021 and every opponent knows that they can get away with some cheap overs of spin when Williamson is at the crease.&nbsp;In only seven of his last 25 T20I innings, Williamson has operated at a strike rate of more than 120. He has a strike rate of just 100.9 in the second innings and that only puts more pressure on the other batters. Even in the last T20 World Cup, Williamson had an average of 35.6 but his strike rate was only 116.33. He did slam 61 off 35 against Ireland and that was the only time he looked dominating.<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1668951992801-articleimg" style="width: 700px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"> Williamson&rsquo;s numbers in this format haven&rsquo;t always been bad. The right-hander did enjoy a fruitful period from 2018 to 2020. In those three years, he crafted 2038 runs in 67 T20 innings at an average of 38.45 and a strike rate of 136.9. And, we all know what he did for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Indian Premier League 2018 - 735 runs at an average of 52.5 and a strike rate of 142.44. Even though he only played 20 T20Is in this period, Williamson still produced pretty good numbers for New Zealand.However, it&rsquo;s pretty evident that the current version of Williamson, who has also been released by SRH, is having a negative impact on the bat for New Zealand. In case, he wants to continue playing T20Is, there is only one option available - the 32-year-old will have to start opening the innings and let Conway bat at No. 3. Unlike Williamson, Conway is an excellent player of spin and his demotion would allow the former to play more fast bowling.Then what are NZC waiting for? It&#39;s time for them to make the harsh call and move on from the legendary skipper who has a lot to contribute in the other two formats. Australia, in a similar situation, decided to put Steve Smith on the back burner for a more dynamic Tim David, and if that is not a lesson enough, then not sure what is. No team can thrive on their main anchor batting with such output and New Zealand, of all teams, can least afford to.Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

No team can thrive on their main anchor batting with such output and the Black Caps, of all sides, can least afford to

Kane Williamson

The Kane-sized problem for New Zealand

<a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/11803/suryakumar-yadav/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Suryakumar Yadav</a>&#39;s last 11 months in T20Is have been nothing short of sensational. From 30 matches since January, the right hander has scored nine fifties, two hundreds in his tally of 1,151 runs at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 188.4 and an average of 47.96.It has been less than two years since he made his international debut at the age of 31, but the Mumbaikar has scored runs with an astonishing ease by finding areas of the ground which are not covered by the fielding team.In the last 10 innings he has six 50-plus scores and on Sunday against New Zealand, the righthander smashed 11 boundaries and seven sixes in his 111 not out in 51 balls which laid the foundation for <a href="https://www.cricket.com/match-score/213901/scorecard/nz-vs-ind-2nd-t20i-india-tour-of-new-zealand-2022" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">India&#39;s 65-run victory at the Bay Oval</a>. It was also his second T20I hundred in less than four months.Suryakumar credited his family for keeping him grounded &nbsp;throughout his stunning run with the bat.&quot;I also spend a lot of time with my wife on off days and speak to my parents a lot. One thing which always keeps me grounded is that we don&#39;t talk about the game at all. They keep me in good space and I really like to spend more time in the space,&quot; he said in the post-match press conference on Sunday.Fewer batters have enjoyed a purple patch like Suryakumar&#39;s who reached 1000 T20I runs after facing just 573 balls.&quot;The confidence is always there. I do have few runs behind me, but you can also get complacent after scoring runs. So, its important to do all the routines the same way when you have done well. I do 90% of the time, I try to do the same things before a game. For example, if I have to do a gym session, eat lunch or take a power nap,&quot; Suryakumar said about his approach to every game.&quot;Playing the format is important. You need to have a game plan and an idea of the conditions but need to have a clear mind when you come into the game,&quot; he added.Suryakumar has built a reputation of playing unconventional shots to find the gaps in the field. On Sunday, he played few delightful shots including a lofted six over long-off, slashing a wide yorker to the third man boundary and one scoop right over the keeper&#39;s head.&quot;I do watch the highlights after matches and get surprised at it (at the shots I play) myself,&quot; he said with a smile.It wasn&#39;t a smooth ride for him though, as he had struggled with runs and was sacked as Mumbai&#39;s captain midway through the 2014-15 domestic season.It had taken a lot more effort before he established himself as Mumbai Indians&#39; premier batter in the IPL and then earned his India badges.&quot;I always look back to where I was. Whenever I am alone or travel with my wife, we always discuss how I was 2-3 years ago. I was frustrated back then, but we were always focused on looking at the positive things and get better. Good food, quality sleep and quality practice sessions were key. Im reaping the rewards of it now,&quot; Suryakumar reflected on his journey.When asked if he dreams to play Test cricket for India, Suryakumar had a grin on his face as he said: &quot;Yes, that time will come. When we start playing cricket, we start with red-ball. I have a good idea of the format having played for Mumbai. I hope my Test cap will come very soon.&quot;Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

Suryakumar Yadav scored a match-winning 111 not out off 51 balls in the second T20I against New Zealand on Sunday

Suryakumar credits family for keeping him grounded through stunning season

After a hectic T20 World Cup where he ran in for 18 overs across six matches, <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/63751/hardik-pandya/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hardik Pandya</a> took a break from bowling as he entrusted six other Indian bowlers do the job in the <a href="https://www.cricket.com/match-score/213901/scorecard/nz-vs-ind-2nd-t20i-india-tour-of-new-zealand-2022" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">second T20I against New Zealand</a>.<a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/63748/deepak-hooda/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deepak Hooda</a> (4-10), <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/9844/yuzvendra-chahal/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Yuzvendra Chahal</a> (2-26), <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/65799/mohammed-siraj/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mohammed Siraj</a> (2-24) &nbsp;put in a clinical performance while defending 192 at the Bay Oval on Sunday as the visitors took a 1-0 lead in the series with a 65-run win.Pandya, who is captaining the side in place of rested Rohit Sharma, was pleased with the bowling performance, where he had used three spinners and three pacers.&quot;Bowlers did well and it was about being aggressive in the mindset. It doesn&#39;t mean taking a wicket every ball, but being aggressive with the ball is important. The conditions were very wet, so credit to the bowlers,&quot; Pandya said in the post-match presentation.&quot;I have bowled a lot, going forward I want to see more bowling options. Not always that this will work but I want more batters to chip in with the ball. I expect them to be professional, which they are,&quot; he added.Batting first, India were propelled to 191/6 in 20 overs, thanks to a stupendous knock of 111 not out off 51 balls (11x4, 7x6) by <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/11803/suryakumar-yadav/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Suryakumar Yadav</a>. Pandya felt it was a comprehensive performance by his team.&quot;Can&#39;t get any better than this. Everyone chipped it but it was surely a special innings by Surya. We would have taken a score of 170-175,&quot; Pandya said.Pandya had earlier captained India in their tour of Ireland in June soon after leading Gujarat Titans to the IPL 2022 title in their debut season. The Baroda allrounder shared his thoughts on leadership.&quot;Give them the opportunity to enjoy themselves. It&#39;s about creating an environment where they are all in a happy space. I see many times in this team that all the players are happy for each other&#39;s success. And that&#39;s important,&quot; Pandya said.New Zealand skipper <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/4330/kane-williamson/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kane Williamson</a> praised Suryakumar&#39;s innings and was left frustrated by his side&#39;s batting as they kept on losing wickets regularly to be bundled out for 126.&quot;It was not our best effort. Surya&#39;s innings was out of this world. One of the best knocks I&#39;ve ever seen. Some of those shots, I&#39;ve never seen before. They were outstanding, we weren&#39;t up to mark,&quot; Williamson said.&quot;Need to look at the small margins. Sometimes, a special innings can happen, Surya is the best player in the world,&quot; he added.The Black Caps failed to get a good start with the ball as they removed India&#39;s new opening pair <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/64712/ishan-kishan/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ishan Kishan</a> and <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/65756/rishabh-pant/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rishabh Pant</a> by the 10th over and 69 runs on the board and were left powerless by Suryakumar&#39;s scintillating strokeplay.&quot;We didn&#39;t get momentum with the ball, didn&#39;t get enough wickets and didn&#39;t get momentum with the bat either. It was frustrating. Again, I&#39;ll say about Suryakumar, his innings was the difference,&quot; Williamson said.After the first T20I was washed out, New Zealand have a chance to level the series on Tuesday by winning the <a href="https://www.cricket.com/live-score/213902/commentary/nz-vs-ind-3rd-t20i-india-tour-of-new-zealand-2022" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">third T20I in Napier</a>.Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

Hardik Pandya felt that Deepak Hooda as the India's sixth bowling option helped them in Sunday's win over New Zealand

Want to see more bowling options going forward: Pandya

<a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/11803/suryakumar-yadav/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Suryakumar Yadav</a> has been the savior for Indian cricket throughout 2022 and fresh from an incredible World Cup campaign from an individual batting perspective, Yadav struck an unbeaten 111 - his second century for India in the shortest format - to take India to 191/6. That was enough for <a href="https://www.cricket.com/news/live-blog/213901/nz-vs-ind-2nd-t20i-india-in-new-zealand-3-t20i-series-2022/live-new-zealand-vs-india-2nd-t20i-1668921908661" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">India to restrict New Zealand</a>, which further went on to underline how important Yadav&rsquo;s knock was for India.However, what has continued to surprise people is the consistency with which he bamboozles everyone. Was it reflexes coming into play or a careful act of doing things in a certain way that would bolster the strength of the side?&nbsp;&quot;In T20 cricket, a hundred is always special,&quot; Suryakumar told the broadcasters after India&#39;s innings. &quot;But it was also important for me to bat till the end, that&#39;s what Hardik [Pandya, his partner in an 82-run stand for the fourth wicket] was telling me from the other end. Just try and play till the 18th-19th over, we need a score of 180-185, and really happy with the score on the board.&quot;I&#39;m enjoying batting this way, I&#39;ve been doing the same thing in the nets, all practice sessions and going out, all these things happening, I&#39;m very happy with that.&quot;Yadav was duly rewarded with the Player of the Match award for his century for he changed the complexion of the game after India lost Rishabh Pant. Yadav revealed that the team had a target of 170 runs in their mind and he wanted to breach that when he came out to bat.&ldquo;The plan was clear when we came to bat. The plan was for me to bat till the end to reach par score of 170. Secret I feel for such kind of format you have to have good intent irrespective of the situation. Great feeling coming here and having a full game irrespective of the conditions,&rdquo; the Mumbaikar added.Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

Yadav was duly rewarded with the Player of the Match award for his century for he changed the complexion of the game after India lost Rishabh Pant

I’m batting the same way in nets and all practice sessions : Suryakumar Yadav

As it happened: Surya's scintillating ton powers India to an emphatic win

After relentless showers in Wellington resulted in the first T20I between New Zealand and India being washed out without a ball being bowled, the action now shifts to Bay Oval for the second clash on Sunday, November 20.&nbsp;After suffering a semi-final exit in the recently concluded T20 World Cup Down Under, the two sides will be itching to start fresh as the road to the 2024 World Cup begins.&nbsp;While India will be keen to continue their dominance and replicate the 5-0 series win the last time they toured New Zealand, the home team will be gunning to settle the scores and salvage some pride after a dismal outing in 2020.&nbsp;Ground Details and Team CombinationOver the years, New Zealand has been known to be a land assisting swing bowling, and on Sunday, it ain&#39;t going to be any different. With overcast conditions on offer and wind factor playing a role, the bowlers are set to rule in Mount Maunganui.&nbsp;The average first innings total batting first is around the 169-run mark, and the average winning total is over 199 runs mainly because the dimensions of the stadium are smaller compared to other venues across the globe, and the bounce here is even through the course of 40 overs.&nbsp;Interestingly, out of the nine matches played thus far, seven have been won by teams batting first, and two have ended in no result.&nbsp;Suggested teams<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1668854937226-articleimg" style="width: 600px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">While you could go for the above team, you can also choose your team from Cricket.com&rsquo;s Fantasy Research Centre. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Then, based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.Captaincy suggestionsFor small leagues: Devon Conway (Captain), Suryakumar Yadav (vice-captain)For grand leagues: Tim Southee (Captain), Hardik Pandya (vice-captain)Stats That MatterIn T20Is, Devon Conway averages 64.2 in home T20Is as compared to 34.6 away. The southpaw also has a brilliant record against off-spinners and has been dismissed only once in 13 innings at a strike rate of 149.2, which is the best for him against a bowling type.&nbsp;Ish Sodhi is the leading wicket-taker for New Zealand at the Bay Oval, and the leg spinner will be more than handy against a plethora of right-handed batters in the middle order of the Indian side.&nbsp;Suryakumar Yadav has been the star of India&#39;s World Cup campaign, and the right-handed batter is the number one batter in the shortest format. In the absence of the big guns, Hardik Pandya and the team management will hope for the Mumbaikar to shoulder the bulk of the responsibility of the side at the top.&nbsp;Grand League PuntsThe leading wicket-taker for New Zealand in the shortest format, all eyes will be on Tim Southee in the second encounter. With overcast conditions on offer, the right-arm pacer will be more than handy in this clash and will be itching to dismantle the Indian batting unit early in the innings.&nbsp;The 33-year-old has scalped 18 wickets in 13 innings at an average of 21.6, which is the second-best for him in the last eight years.&nbsp;While Southee is expected to create an impact with the new ball, Arshdeep Singh will also be a valuable addition to your fantasy side. The left-arm seamer has been the find for the Men in Blue in the World Cup and will be keen to continue his sublime run.&nbsp;Another key player for the Indian side in this encounter will be their skipper Hardik Pandya. The 29-year-old has been brilliant since his return after an injury layoff and will help you gain maximum points with his all-around abilities.&nbsp;Here are the Top 10 Criclytics Projections&nbsp;<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1668854740251-articleimg" style="width: 600px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Probable XI:India: Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (Captain), Shreyas Iyer, Washington Sundar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep SinghNew Zealand: Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Kane Williamson (Captain), Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Adam MilnePowered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

Here are a few tips that could help you create your fantasy XI for the second T20I between New Zealand and India at Bay Oval

Devon Conway

Fantasy: Bank on Southee and Suryakumar to deliver

Cricket fans, look away!&nbsp;This ain&#39;t the news you want to read on a lazy weekend as you, or rather we gear up for the second game of the three-match T20I series between India and New Zealand at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.And guess what, unfortunately, the forecast predicts showers all through the evening!&nbsp;Ah, such a shame!<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1668853424356-articleimg" style="width: 600px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Eight days after India&#39;s dismal exit from the T20 World Cup Down Under, the Men in Blue were back on the park, albeit only for a brief period for the first game of the series in Wellington.&nbsp;With most of the big guns rested for the Men in Blue in this series, it provides an ideal opportunity for inexperienced players to showcase their talent in the world arena and stake a claim for themselves in a full-strength Indian side.&nbsp;On the other hand, the home team will be aiming to avenge the 5-0 series defeat in the last series these two sides competed in the land of the Kiwis.&nbsp;While it feels like an eternity as India toured New Zealand in early 2020, just before the pandemic, and it derailed the lives of millions of people across the globe.&nbsp;Three years later, while we have slowly moved on to a certain level of normalcy, the scars from the unprecedented chaos are still fresh in the minds of the people.It is fair to say that a lot has changed in Indian cricket post the pandemic, and we are now slowly heading towards the start of something special with Hardik Pandya at the helm.&nbsp;Ground DetailsWhile relentless showers forced the game to be abandoned without a ball being bowled, the bandwagon now shifts to the Bay Oval, hoping for clear skies.&nbsp;However, the weather forecast seems to be far from being positive as rains are expected to play a significant role in the high-voltage clash, with around 90 percent chances of showers along with thunderstorms.&nbsp;<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1668853454264-articleimg" style="width: 600px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Nevertheless, if the weather withstands the forecast and we are lucky enough to get a game, the bowling unit of both sides will be grinning from ear to ear as the conditions are set to favour them.&nbsp;Over the years, New Zealand has been known to be a land assisting swing bowling, and on Sunday, it ain&#39;t going to be any different. With overcast conditions on offer and wind factor playing a role, the bowlers are set to rule in Mount Maunganui.&nbsp;The average first innings total batting first is around the 169-run mark, and the average winning total is over 199 runs mainly because the dimensions of the stadium are smaller compared to other venues across the globe, and the bounce here is even through the course of 40 overs.&nbsp;Interestingly, out of the nine matches played thus far, seven have been won by teams batting first, and two have ended in no result. Runs on the board has been the mantra for the sides setting foot at Bay Oval, and it will be exciting to see what are the tactics deployed by the two captains with the weather around and the possibility of the DLS method coming into the picture.&nbsp;Things to watch out for One of the talking points after India&#39;s semi-final exit in the T20 World Cup Down Under was the underwhelming performance of the openers, KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma.&nbsp;With the duo not part of the series, it provides the young Shubman Gill a chance to transform his fifty-over form in the shortest format and create a niche for himself in this new era of Indian cricket. For someone of his calibre, it is hard to believe that he is yet to make his debut for the national side in T20 cricket.&nbsp;Well, you read that right!&nbsp;While he is expected to be one of the openers in the two games, his partner at the other end is surely going to raise a few eyebrows around the world.&nbsp;<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1668853494820-articleimg" style="width: 600px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The team management tried Rishabh Pant for a brief period before the mega event, and if they follow the same route, it will be curtains for Ishan Kishan in his bid to cement the opening slot.&nbsp;The Jharkhand-born player has been riddled with inconsistencies and is behind Pant and Sanju Samson in the pecking order to command a place in the side as a wicket-keeper.&nbsp;Another area to fine-tune for the Indian side will be the role of a finisher along with Hardik. In the current set-up, there could be a possible toss-up between Deepak Hooda and Washington Sunday for the role, atleast till Ravindra Jadeja slots his way back into the playing XI.&nbsp;StrategiesIn an era of match-ups, one of the ideal tactics deployed against left-handed opening batters is the introduction of off-spinners.&nbsp;<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1668853630388-articleimg" style="width: 600px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">However, hope that the Indian team does not make this mistake, as Devon Conway has been dismissed only once in 13 innings against off-spinners and strikes at 149.2, which is the best for him against a bowling type.&nbsp;Well, it will indeed not be a great idea to give Sundar an early go in the powerplay.&nbsp;Similarly, Rishabh Pant against left-arm spinners is something Kane Williamson needs to watch out for. The southpaw has a dismal record against orthodox tweakers, is dismissed nine times in 19 innings, averaging 8.3. With Mitchell Santner in the mix, it would not be a bad idea to unleash him as soon as Pant comes out to bat. But what if Pant opens the innings as we have presumed above. There lies an interesting decision to make for the Black Caps.&nbsp;Probable XI:India: Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (Captain), Washington Sundar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep SinghNew Zealand: Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Kane Williamson (Captain), Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Adam MilnePowered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

A false start to kickstart India's new era, and alas, the conditions look ever so grim for the second clash as well at the Bay Oval

Shubman Gill

Ishan Kishan

Gloomy conditions in focus as India rekindle Kiwi rivalry 

Rahul Dravid was appointed India&rsquo;s head coach in November 2021, and since then he missed a couple of series - in Ireland and Zimbabwe - owing to India&rsquo;s double commitments. For the first time ever, Dravid wouldn&rsquo;t be a part of an India support staff when the side was in action in New Zealand.&nbsp;That didn&rsquo;t go down well with former coach Ravi Shastri, who stated that every single series allows the coach to understand the players and given the coach gets a couple of months of break during the Indian Premier League season, any other leaves should be discouraged.&ldquo;Because I want to understand my team, I want to understand my players and I want to be in control of that team. These breaks&hellip; why do you need that many breaks, to be honest? You get your 2-3 months of the IPL, that&rsquo;s enough for you to rest as a coach. But other times, I think a coach should be hands-on, whoever he is.&rdquo; Ravi Shastri said.However, Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin didn&rsquo;t find merit in that argument, saying the Indian coaching staff, led by Rahul Dravid, was involved in extensive planning ahead of the World Cup and had put in a lot of hard work, and they deserve a bit of a break.&ldquo;I will explain why Laxman has gone there with a completely different team because even that could be interpreted differently. Rahul Dravid and his team put in extensive hard work ahead of the T20 World Cup, right from planning, since I saw this from close quarters, I&rsquo;m saying this,&rdquo; Ashwin said on his Youtube channel.&ldquo;They had specific in-depth plans for each venue and each opposition. So they would have been under not only mental but also physical burnout and everyone needed a break. As soon as the New Zealand series ends,we have the Bangladesh tour. That&rsquo;s why we have a different coaching staff led by Laxman for this tour,&rdquo; the off-spinner added.Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

Ashwin didn’t find merit in Shastri's argument, saying the Indian coaching staff, led by Rahul Dravid, was involved in extensive planning ahead of the World Cup

NZ VS IND,2nd T20I

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