Shreyas Iyer & Co face wounded Kiwis in third T20I at ‘Windy Wellington’
Wellington: India’s bowlers, particularly comeback man Bhuvneshwar Kumar, will be under scrutiny as the visitors look to clinch the T20I series against New Zealand in the third match here on Tuesday.
India have won the first two matches in Christchurch and will aim to extend their unbeaten run on New Zealand soil in bilateral T20Is, which dates back to 2020. They had swept the hosts 5-0 on that tour before winning the only completed match during their next visit in 2022-23.
Bhuvneshwar, returning to international cricket after four years, has conceded 99 runs in eight overs across the first two games. Bowling coach Morne Morkel has backed the 36-year-old, stressing the need to allow him time to regain his rhythm.
Arshdeep Singh will lead the pace attack alongside Bhuvneshwar, with India’s bowling unit still seeking consistency in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya.
New Zealand, meanwhile, will look to their top-order to deliver after Finn Allen, Tim Seifert and Daryl Mitchell struggled to make an impact. Glenn Phillips has scored two half-centuries, while Bevon Jacobs impressed in the second match.
Strong crosswinds at the Basin Reserve could test both teams, particularly India’s aggressive batters. The hosts will also miss Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry, who are being rested under workload management.
India’s middle-order combinations have worked well so far, but the bowling remains an area of concern.
Match Starts@ 12.30 pm
