After a lopsided ODI series where the visitors triumphed, New Zealand and India will now turn their attentions towards the three-match T20I series which gets underway in Wellington on Wednesday.
India ran away 4-1 victors in the ODI series and will be looking to carry that momentum into the T20s against Kane Williamson and his men.
Ahead of the first T20 between the two sides at the Westpac stadium, we take a look at the key talking points.
INDIA AIM TO OVERTURN KIWI T20 DOMINANCE
Though they might be flying after their comprehensive victory in the ODIs, India will be wary of their previous track record against the Kiwis when it comes to the 20-over format.
No other team in international cricket has enjoyed as much success over India in the T20 format than the Blackcaps who have become some sort of a bogey team for the Men in Blue.
In eight previous T20 clashes between the two sides, it is the Kiwis who have come out on top on six occasions. The visitors have tasted defeats in the two T20s they have played against the Blackcaps on New Zealand soil and that will be a record they will be desperate to change in the upcoming three-match series.
However, Rohit Sharma and his men will take solace from their recent form in the format which has seen them lose only two of their last 15 clashes.
India have stumbled historically against the Kiwis in T20s.
KIWIS MUST BREAK T20 SLUMP
While New Zealand’s T20 record against the Indians will be a cause of optimism for Williamson and his men, they have not really set the world alight in the format in recent months.
In their last 11 T20 encounters, the Blackcaps have managed only two wins with the most recent of them against a lacklustre Sri Lanka. That win against Sri Lanka in the sole T20 managed to halt a six-match losing streak in the format for New Zealand.
New Zealand were resoundingly whitewashed 3-0 by Pakistan in the UAE last year along with a dismal showing in the Trans-Tasman tri-series also involving Australia and England.
It is no surprise that the hosts are now ranked a lowly sixth in the format and they will surely have their task cut out against the No2 ranked Indians despite the absence of Virat Kohli.
Williamson will seek a change in New Zealand’s T20 fortunes.
CHANCE FOR RISHABH PANT TO IMPRESS
While the ODI series might be done and dusted with, the upcoming ICC World Cup in England will still be on the visitors’ minds when they take the field for the three T20s.
Several players in the Indian contingent will be looking to make their mark in the series and one of them will be young Rishabh Pant who returns to the side after missing out on the ODIs.
Pant has found chances hard to come by in the ODI format with veteran MS Dhoni still going strong, but the T20 series could be the perfect vehicle for him to prove his 50-over credentials. The youngster has enjoyed a fine start to his international Test career and his explosive batting down the order could make him a dangerous proponent in limited-overs cricket.
India’s selectors have repeatedly stated that Pant remains in the frame for the World Cup squad and the New Zealand series could be the perfect opportunity for the left-hander to brighten those prospects.
Pant will be desperate to take his chance for India.
