KEY CLASHES

After winning the ODI series 2-1, India take on New Zealand in a three-match T20 series, starting Wednesday. Here is a look at five key battles which could shape the contests.

ASHISH NEHRA VS MARTIN GUPTILL

Left-arm pacer Ashish Nehra will end his 18-year international career with the T20 International at his home ground, Ferozeshah Kotla on Wednesday. He’ll look to sign off on a high but will face a stiff challenge from opener Martin Guptill, who has taken his ability to hit the ball to another level in the past few years. Hailed as New Zealand’s best white-ball cricketer, Guptill will look to attack from the word go.

YUZVENDRA CHAHAL VS TOM LATHAM

Tom Latham was New Zealand’s highest run-getter (206) in the ODI series and will hope to build on the momentum in the middle order. However, leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal — who bounced back in the last two ODIs after a poor show in the first game in Mumbai — will look to make the visitors’ job tough. His duel with Latham will be interesting to watch. If Chahal can get him early, New Zealand could come under pressure.

VIRAT KOHLI VS ISH SODHI

On Indian wickets, New Zealand will rely heavily on leg-spinner Ish Sodhi. The Ludhiana-born player, drafted in as injury replacement, will hope to take advantage of a favourable track. Virat Kohli, on the other hand, is in stupendous form. He scored two centuries in the ODIs. However, the Indian skipper will be conscious of the challenge the wrist spinner could pose on a turning pitch. India not having beaten the Kiwis in T20s will also be a factor.

ROHIT SHARMA VS TRENT BOULT

Recently, Rohit Sharma has had issues with left-arm fast bowlers and his dismissals have been almost similar. It’s the incoming deliveries that are troubling him. But in Kanpur, he seemed better equipped. An on-drive against Trent Boult — played with a straight bat and with the head not falling over — was an indication that Rohit had learnt from his mistake. If he continues to play Boult well, India will fancy their chances of getting the better of Kiwis.

JASPRIT BUMRAH VS KANE WILLIAMSON

During the Pune ODI, Bumrah targeted Williamson’s stumps throughout and didn’t allow him to score a single run. His accurate bowling paid off against New Zealand’s best batsmen as he had the Kiwi skipper trapped in front. In the series decider in Kanpur, Williamson played the seamer well and scored a half-century, studded with eight boundaries. Come November 1, it will be interesting to see who comes out on top in this battle.