India v New Zealand, Pre-series: Combined ODI XI

India and New Zealand have always witnessed tight encounters in the past. While in a few series, it has been a one-sided affair with the Indian side rampaging the visitors the last time they visited the country.

For India, the series against New Zealand might be crucial in determining their place at the top of the ODI rankings, with South Africa gaining the upper hand with the massive win against Bangladesh in their series.

It would be, however, interesting to see the approach that India would adopt against Kane Williamson led side. New Zealand could be a serious threat to India’s plans of finishing as the top side in the ODI format this year. For India, it would be a familiar face as most of the Kiwi International players play in the Indian Premier League. There will be a few new faces to look out for both the sides, as Kuldeep Yadav will be making his debut against New Zealand, while there stands a chance that Kiwi all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme might make his debut for the Kiwis.

Here is a combined XI from both the sides ahead of the series:

1) Tom Latham

The left-handed New Zealand opener Tom Latham has been the sole bright spot in the otherwise weak batting line-up when these sides met each other last time around. The left-handed Kiwi opener struck a crucial 108 in the warm-up game to lead the New Zealand side to a total of 343/9 in their fifty overs leading up to the series.

Against India, the left-handed batsman has scored 244 runs in the five games, at an average of 61 with a strike rate of 89.37. His change of gears midway through the innings has helped the Kiwi side lately.

2) Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma would be the opener at the other end of the pitch, with the right-handed batsman has scored 359 runs against New Zealand in the 13 innings that he has played.

The average is just below 30, while strike rate is comparatively lower than his average career strike-rate at 72.81. However, the right-handed batsman is at his peak following the win against Australia. Rohit Sharma would be aiming to increase his career average, and strike-rate against the Kiwi side come this series. The right-hander would face familiar pace-attack with Boult and Southee part of the Indian Premier League.

3) Virat Kohli – (C)

Indian skipper Virat Kohli has been the mainstay of the Indian batting line-up since the retirement of Sachin Tendulkar. The right-handed batsman has always brought his ‘A’ game whenever his side is in of its dire need. Kohli has always favoured the side led by Kane Williamson, with over 890 runs being scored against New Zealand.

Kohli’s staggering average of 68.53 surely puts him in at No.3 ahead of the likes of Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor. The Indian skipper’s strike-rate is at a colossal of 97.69, a stat which is less seen in the 50 overs format. With a high score of 159*, New Zealand is definitely one of Kohli’s favourite sides.

4) Kane Williamson

New Zealand skipper and right-hand batsman Kane Williamson will feature at No.4 in this playing XI. Williamson, just like his counterpart has pretty much been carrying his nation around the globe with some scintillating knocks and some wise captaincy. However, when it comes to India Williamson’s side are always on the receiving end as seen in the last series between the two.

Williamson’s willow has been a rare commodity in the Indian soil, with the right-handed batsman scoring over 650 runs at an average of 44 with strike-rate nearing 80. The Kiwi skipper has also grabbed the Man-of-the-Match trophy twice in the 15 games that he has played against India.

5) Kedar Jadhav

The Indian all-rounder Kedar Jadhav finds his place in the squad, not only for his finishing skills with the bat but also the innate ability to pick up key wickets in the middle overs of the innings. Jadhav has scored 90 runs against New Zealand at an average of 45, with strike-rate of over 100.

With the ball in hand, Jadhav has picked up key Kiwi wickets such as Kane Williamson and Tom Latham in the six wickets that he has picked up against the same opposition. The ability to finish the game has been one of his strengths and that would be crucial for Team India come this series

6) MS Dhoni – (WK)

Former Indian skipper and wicketkeeper MS Dhoni will play as the wicketkeeper-batsman in the lineup. The former Indian skipper has always threatened the Kiwi bowling attack, with huge statistics. In the 20 innings that the right-hander has faced the Kiwi attack, Dhoni has scored 773 runs at an average of just above 51 with a strike-rate of 82.

Dhoni, is arguably one of World’s best wicketkeeper at the moment, with his faster-than-lightning accolade stumpings. The Indian keeper has also been one of the most reliable wicketkeepers in World cricket.

7) Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya has finally hit the right note, in the recent series against Australia after showing glimpses of high standards in the tour of Sri Lanka. The right-handed all-rounder has taken the cricketing arena by storm, with his six-hitting ability. In the two innings that he has played against New Zealand, the right-handed batsman has scored 45 runs at a strike-rate of run a ball.

With the ball in hand, the all-rounder has picked up four wickets, earning a Man-of-the-Match award against the same opposition. Pandya could be placed anywhere in the batting order, with his ability of both taking responsibility and knocking the ball out of the park ever-so-fluently.

8) Bhuvneshwar Kumar

The man with the golden arm has been a lethal weapon for captain Kohli with quality swing bowling and accurate bowling performances.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has always been the weapon to look out for the oppositions, as recently seen against Sri Lanka and Australia. Although the right-handed bowler has only picked up four wickets against New Zealand, his opening spell has always caused trouble or two for the Kiwi batsmen. Kumar has also been used for Kohli with the bat, scoring crucial runs for the team at the death end of the overs.

9) Kuldeep Yadav

The Chinaman will be making his debut against New Zealand in the coming series, with the left-hander already sealing a spot for himself in the playing XI. Yadav’s exploits against Australia had all but confirmed his place in the playing XI, with a hattrick already under his name.

Against New Zealand, the Chinaman would come in handy to surprise the Kiwi top-order with only Williamson having prior experience of the Chinaman bowler during his stint in the Indian Premier League. It would be interesting to see how the Kiwi batsmen take their stance against Kuldeep Yadav.

10) Trent Boult

The left-arm swing genius is an automatic pick between the two sides, thanks to his left-handed banana swingers. Boult has been arguably one of New Zealand’s best bowlers in the recent past in sub-continent with some credit-worthy performance from the left-hander.

Boult has been incredibly accurate with his lengths and line and has only picked six wickets in the four games against India. However, the economy rate column for the left-hander has been nothing short of spectacular. Boult has only given 4.99 runs at an average against India in the sub-continent, with the left-arm looking forward to this series to renew his rivalry with Virat Kohli.

11) Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah’s place in this XI has never been in jeopardy, with the right-arm pacer an integral part of the Indian playing XI. Bumrah too has picked up six wickets in the four games that he has played against New Zealand. However, the average column has been a shocker for the shorter format of the game reading 4.04 an over.

Against Australia, the right-arm pacer was one India’s most sought-after bowler, thanks to his uncanny action which did not let the Australian batters to settle. The right-arm bowler’s action does not change a bit between his slower deliveries, and his normal paced one, which makes him a difficult customer for the batsmen to face.