The Men in Blue and Kiwis are going head-to-head in a five-match T20 series in New Zealand. Team India won the first match of this series by six wickets. India is currently ranked fifth, while the blackcaps are just behind them in sixth in the current ICC international T20 ranking. Team India is going to this trip with high confidence from their recent ODI series win at home against the Aussies, but this trip is going to be a serious challenge for them as they are looking for some revenge of last year’s world cup semi-final defeat against them. This is a must-win series at home for New Zealand too as their recent run of form isn’t great. They are coming to this series with a home T20 series defeat vs England followed by an away Test series defeat at Australia. So, let’s check our top 5 fantasy picks for the second T20 match-
KL RAHUL :
The 27-year-old wicket-keeper batsman is in the form of his life at the moment. He is filling the gap in the opening slot of India in white-ball cricket for some time now and he is again going to do so as Shikhar Dhawan is ruled out of this series with an injury. Even he can bat in anywhere in the top order, for this series Rahul will be the perfect and preferred choice to partner Rohit Sharma.
Everyone saw his wicket-keeping ability in the recent ODI series vs Australia and he is going to keep in this format as well. As per fantasy cricket is a concern, Rahul is a must choice to score points with his blistering batting and with some catching behind the stumps.
VIRAT KOHLI :
This is no surprise pick. Whenever team India is playing, king Kohli is the first name of almost everyone’s team who plays fantasy game. This year Kohli played two T20’s at home against Sri Lanka with the highest run of 30 against them. In 2019 his average in 10 T20 internationals was 77.7 with a strike rate of 164.7 in 10 matches with five 50’s coming in that time. The 2019 IPL was not Kohli’s best as he averaged 33 in 14 matches for Royal Challengers Bangalore with only two fifties and a century. The captain must lead the line of our batting against a quality Kiwis’ attack.
NAVDEEP SAINI:
In December 2019 this boy made his International debut for India vs West Indies and since then he has picked up wickets in every match he has played so far. This record speaks for itself that Saini is a must pick for this match. So far he has played three T20s and he has picked up seven wickets with the best figures of 3/28 vs Sri Lanka at Pune. In a far more suitable fast bowling conditions in New Zealand there is no surprise he will be picking up some more against them.
COLIN DE GRANDHOMME :
The 33-year-old veteran makes a balance in their team with his all-round performance. He is in a decent form with both bat and ball with his showing against Australia. Before that he scored a couple of good innings against England at home as well. Colin’s T20 strike rate is 149 for the Kiwis in 33 matches. So it’s a no brainer to choose him in your fantasy XI.
TIM SOUTHEE :
Arguably the best bowler in the kiwi attack currently, Tim has got a good record against India. He got four wickets in a recent T20 series against England. So he will be eager to show his class in one of his favourite opponents in his home conditions. Southee plays in the IPL as well so he is experienced against this Indian batting so it will be a good pick for sure for your Fantasy team.
With that being said, these are my top 5 fantasy picks for this exciting second-match coming our way.
