Hardik pa

India T20I: New Zealand have won the toss and elected to bowl against India in the opening match of a five-game T20I series at the VCA Stadium on Wednesday, with pacer Kristian Clarke handed a debut cap.

Left-handed wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has returned to the India T20I side for the first time since 2023. With Shubman Gill omitted, Sanju Samson returns as the opener alongside an in-form Abhishek Sharma.

The series comes ahead of the T20 World Cup starting on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka, where the Suryakumar Yadav-led side enter as defending champions. “We were looking to bowl first because we felt there was dew around 8:30pm during our practice.