Hindustan Surkhiyan Desk: The ICC might have robbed the fans from an opportunity to witness an India-Pakistan spectacle in World Cup group stages for the first time since 2011 by placing the arch-rivals in different groups for T20 World Cup 2020 but the connection between the two teams is not so easy to dispense with. Despite not facing each other in a bilateral series for more than six years, India and Pakistan have been competing with each other to become the best limited overs side. India, currently ranked No. 2 in ODIs, have a chance to gain the upper hand over Pakistan by matching their world record in T20Is when they face New Zealand in a three-match T20 series.
Pakistan currently hold the record for the longest-running unbeaten streak in T20 bilaterals. Their unbeaten run, which lasted for 11 straight series, was ended a couple of days ago by South Africa when they took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series by a clinching a dramatic 7-run win the 2nd T20I at Wanderers.
Virat Kohli’s India, on the other hand, are unbeaten for 10 T20 series. India last lost a series against West Indies in 2017 when three hosts got the better of them in the one-off T20I at Kingston. Since then, India have beaten Sri Lanka (1-0) at home, drew 1-1 at home against Australia, thumped New Zealand(2-1) and Sri Lanka(3-0) at home, beaten South Africa(2-1) in their own backyard, won the Nidahas Trophy triangular in Sri Lanka, registered away wins in Ireland(2-0) and England(2-1), blew away West Indies(3-0) at home and drew their last T20 series against Australia (1-1) away from home. In their last 10 T20 series, India have ended up on the winning side on eight occasions and drawn two.
After beating New Zealand 4-1 in the ODI series, India have all the reasons to think of matching Pakistan’s record run of staying undefeated in 11 T20 series.
Apart from the world record, India also have a chance to close the gap between them and No. 1 ranked Pakistan in the ICC T20I rankings. If they manage to sweep the series, India will gain two rating points and bring the deficit down to five points which currently stands at eight.
Some fresh faces will join the Indian squad for the T20I series which starts from Wednesday at Wellington. All-rounder Krunal Pandya, fast bowler Siddharth Kaul and wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant will join the team replacing while Ambati Rayudu, Mohammed Shami, Ravindra Jadeja will take the flight back to India.
Rohit Sharma, who captained India in final two ODIs, will continue to lead even in the T20s in the absence of Virat Kohli, who has been rested by BCCI.
India T20I squad for New Zealand T20Is: Rohit Sharma(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill, Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Vijay Shankar Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddharth Kaul, Khaleel Ahmed.
