Fantasy: Suryakumar and Southee are your go-to players

New Zealand and India will come face to face against each other in the third and final T20I at McLean Park in Napier on Tuesday (November 22). The first encounter was washed out but New Zealand felt the wrath of Suryakumar Yadav’s bat in the second T20I in Mount Maunganui. 

The right-hander smoked 11 fours and seven sixes in his 51-ball 111* and single-handedly decimated New Zealand’s bowling attack to give India a 1-0 lead in the series. The Blackcaps, who will be without their skipper Kane Williamson, would now be eager to win the third T20I and level the series 1-1. 

Ground details and team combination

McLean Park has hosted only two T20Is since 2020 but is known to be a batting-friendly surface. In those two encounters, the batters here have scored runs at an average of 26.6 and a strike rate of 150.8. The spinners here have an economy of 9.1 and an average of 73, which means it would be ideal to have as many pacers as possible. However, Yuzvendra Chahal and Ish Sodhi are both wicket-takers and you could have one of them in your team.

Suggested teams

While you could go for the above team, you can also choose your team from Cricket.com’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 suggestions

For small leagues: Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Tim Southee (vice-captain)

For grand leagues: Devon Conway (Captain), Hardik Pandya (vice-captain)

Stats that matter

It’s impossible to bet against Suryakumar Yadav these days. Just look at what he did in the second T20I. On a tacky Bay Oval surface where every single batter struggled, SKY slammed his second T20I century and that knock ended up making all the difference. Let’s talk about what he has done in 2022!? Well, 1151 runs in 30 innings at an average of 47.96 and a strike rate of 188.4. 

The leading wicket-taker for New Zealand in the shortest format, all eyes will be on Tim Southee in the third encounter. The right-arm seamer claimed a hat-trick in the second T20I and has been New Zealand’s best seamer this year. In 14 T20Is, Southee has claimed 21 wickets at a strike rate of 15.2.

Yes, Shreyas Iyer struggles against short deliveries but his record in T20Is is quite impressive. In 16 T20Is this year, the right-hander has scored 463 runs at an average of close to 40 and a strike rate of 141.6.

Glenn Phillips is New Zealand’s highest run-scorer in 2022 - 662 runs in 18 innings at an average of 44.13 and a strike rate of 155.8.

Grand League punts

In T20Is, Devon Conway averages 60.92 in home T20Is as compared to 34.55 away. The wicketkeeper-batter could also fetch you points from behind the stumps.

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. 

Possible XIs

India - Ishan Kishan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer/Sanju Samson, Deepak Hooda, Hardik Pandya (c), Washington Sundar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar/Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal.

New Zealand - Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee (c), Adam Milne/Blair Tickner, Lockie Ferguson.