India started this New Zealand series with a pathetic T20 record in the country, having lost four of their five matches in Kiwiland. Two matches into this series and Virat Kohli's men lead 2-0 and appear all set to squeeze the juice out of Kane Williamson's men in their backyard. Adapting to conditions brilliantly, India have put on quite a spectacle so far this series to keep the Kiwis at bay. The batting has been baseball level while the fast bowlers have thrown grenades at the Kiwi batsmen. There's all to play in this series, though, with three more games to go.
Watch out for:
Ravindra Jadeja
The Saurashtra all-rounder is often criticised for not fitting into the scheme of things in T20s. Here in New Zealand, he has ridiculed all such suggestions with some excellent bowling. If he dismissed Colin de Grandhomme in the first game, in the second, he leaked just 18 runs in four overs while dismissing Kane Williamson and de Grandhomme.
Read | IND vs NZ: Visitors prove their T20 bowling is a work of art
Pakistan turn around T20 fortunes
From T20 giants to meek lamb at home in the same format, Pakistan's fall was swift in the last few months. Having lost 0-3 to Sri Lanka at home in a T20I series, Pakistan would have expected Bangladesh to challenge them more but so far the series has been a drab one-sided affair that, if anything, acted as an advertisement for not playing cricket in Pakistan. Can a dead rubber evoke better interest? Unlikely. But this is Pakistan, where the impossible suddenly turns possible.
Watch out for:
Babar Azam
Babar Azam perfected his T20 skills at Somerset in England where he successfully opened the batting with the latest sensation Tom Banton. Opening the batting has allowed Babar to play more freely and in the second T20I, he showed just that with a free-stroking 44-ball 66. Will this experiment last long?
Sri Lanka and the redemption angle
Kusal Perera has played no part in this series in Zimbabwe, but the wicket-keeper batsman has trended more on social media for his omission than some of the Lankan players actually on tour. Angelo Mathews' double hundred was the highlight of the first Test and Sri Lanka will hope for another win as the teams face off at the same venue.
Watch out for
Angelo Mathews
Mathews' form has dwindled of late in ODIs and T20Is but the Sri Lankan all-rounder remains an extraordinary Test batsman capable of playing the big innings. His patience during the 468-ball vigil was telling and Mathews will once again be banked upon to give Sri Lankan bowlers a large cushion of runs.
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Feature image courtesy: AFP / Manjunath Kiran
