India vs New Zealand 2020's tour of New Zealand will be India's biggest challenge of the year before the World T20. With Kohli & Co. already at the top of the World Test Championship, the pressure to maintain the lead will be optimum.
India are set to travel to New Zealand to play 5 T20Is, 3 ODIs, a three-day practice match and two Test matches from January 24 to March 04. The two Tests against the Kiwis will be Kohli & Co.'s biggest test so far in the World Test Championship. India lead the way with a mammoth 360 points with Australia chasing them from the second spot. However, all of India's games so far have been against weakened oppositions but the two Tests in New Zealand will be their first test so far.
The three Tests will be played at Seddon Park, Hamilton against New Zealand XI and that will be followed by the two Tests at Basin Reserve, Wellington and Hagley Oval, Christchurch.
The five T20Is will give India another chance to test their bench strength in a World Cup year. With the World T20 set to be in Australia in October, the five games will allow India to try out further combinations. Hardik Pandya's impending return could also provide the India a much needed boost. The first two T20Is will be played at Eden Park, Auckland and the next three at Seddon Park, Hamilton, Westpac Stadium, Wellington and Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui respectively.
The Men in Blue will also play three ODIs against the Black Caps in between the T20I and Test series. The three ODIs will be played at Seddon Park, Hamilton, Eden Park, Auckland and Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui.
With gyms closed during the nationwide lockdown, athletes are embracing unique ways and means to stay fit. As far as Iyer is concerned, the India middle-order batsman is using his kit bag to do the lifting.
Samson, 25, played two T20Is in New Zealand in the five-match series which India won 5-0, but failed to make an impact with scores of 2 and 8. He was given a chance against Sri Lanka also in Pune earlier this year but there also he managed just six.
World number one India lost the Test series 0-2. He observed that even Kohli seemed fatigued in New Zealand.
India had batted first in both Tests and Hesson said that was an important factor as conditions got better as the matches wore on.
The Kiwis completely outplayed the Indians and replying to a query from a fan on whether Rohit's presence would have made a difference, the Kiwi pacer said: "Of course."
Ajinkya Rahane said the criticism that they do not play short-ball well does not hold any merit.
The Indian skipper has been criticised for his poor tour of New Zealand where he managed only 218 runs in 9 innings across formats with only one half-century score.
It's time for retrospection for India. For the batters whose follies have been called out and for the bowling department that showed lack of depth in New Zealand.
Virat Kohli had his worst-ever outing in red-ball cricket in the recently concluded two-match Test series against New Zealand.
After Team India's recent 2-0 defeat in New Zealand, the World Test Championship has been thrown wide open with few other possibilities for the finale at Lord's in June 2021.
Kohli managed scores of 2, 19, 3 and 14 in the two-match away series, averaging only 9.50 - his worst since the horror tour of England in 2014.
Both, Rahane and Pujara had a poor outing in the recently-concluded tour to New Zealand.
New Zealand pacer Tim Southee has defended Virat Kohli over his angry outburst during the second Test.
Former Indian captain Kapil Dev talked in detail about Virat Kohli's struggles during the recently-concluded tour to New Zealand.
The Indian batters struggled to deal with swing and short-pitch bowling from the New Zealanders as the hosts won the two-match Test series 2-0 against India.
The statement sparked controversy as fans felt it was not a true gesture as a sportsman.
"A lot of people are talking about Kohli's technique and so on. I am amazed by all this talk. He has scored 70 centuries in international cricket, how can you question his technique," Inzamam said.
On day two of the second Test against New Zealand, Kohli was animated as ever in his celebrations when home side captain Kane Williamson was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah. Kohli also gestured the crowd to keep quiet.
Indian captain Virat Kohli insisted that the culture instilled in the Indian team doesn't allow any player to take his place for granted.
Virat Kohli said that workload management is necessary and players will start taking breaks on their own when they feel the need for it.
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