Christchurch, October 2026 : India have brought back fast bowler Mayank Yadav and seam-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy for the opening T20 International against New Zealand at Hagley Oval on Thursday, with captain Shreyas Iyer winning the toss and opting to bowl first.
The contest marks the first T20I meeting between the two sides since India defeated New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final in Ahmedabad earlier this year to retain the world title on home soil. The Indian team has arrived in New Zealand following a rain-abandoned series decider against the West Indies in Bengaluru just four days earlier.
Iyer confirmed that Mayank and Nitish have replaced Prince Yadav and Shivam Dube in the playing XI. The match also marks the first T20I appearance in New Zealand for both Mayank and Nitish, giving them an opportunity to adapt to unfamiliar conditions and make an impact in the series opener.
Explaining his decision to bowl first, Iyer said the team wanted to assess the nature of the pitch, particularly the bounce it could offer. With a quick turnaround between the previous series and the New Zealand tour, managing the transition to different playing conditions has been an important consideration for the visitors.
Iyer said the players had adjusted reasonably well despite the challenges posed by the weather, time difference and changing conditions. He added that the squad understood the demands of international cricket and was prepared for the challenge.
The Indian captain also highlighted the positives from the recent T20I series against the West Indies, particularly the team's aggressive batting performances. India had consistently posted high totals, with scores of 230 and 250 featuring regularly across the contests.
He acknowledged that bowling on smaller grounds and flat pitches against the West Indies had been challenging, but praised the bowlers for showing character under pressure. Iyer said the team intended to carry the same positive attitude and aggressive approach into the New Zealand series.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said he would also have preferred to bowl first in front of a sell-out home crowd. However, he believed the fresh pitch could provide an opportunity for the hosts to put up a substantial total by batting first.
Santner expressed confidence in New Zealand's squad depth and said the players were excited about facing India in what promises to be a competitive series. He also highlighted the potential of Bevon Jacobs, praising the batter's power and ability to strengthen the middle order.
India's playing XI features Sanju Samson as wicketkeeper, alongside Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Iyer, Tilak Varma, Nitish Reddy, Naman Dhir, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh and Mayank Yadav.
New Zealand have selected Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Bevon Jacobs, Michael Bracewell, Santner, Nathan Smith, Adam Milne, Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson.
With India looking to build momentum after their T20 World Cup triumph and New Zealand seeking a strong start at home, the opening T20I is expected to provide an early indication of both teams' form, combinations and strategies for the series.
