India vs New Zealand 2017: India's probable XI for first T20I

After clinching a thrilling victory in the ODI series, India will look to continue their momentum in the three-match T20I series that begins in Delhi on November 1. Going up against the No.1 ranked T20I side in the world won't be easy, especially considering the fact that India have never beaten New Zealand in the T20I.

However, with the same core of players that helped India turned things around in the ODI series and a couple of new additions, India will be looking to claim first blood as the series kicks off in Delhi.

Here's what India's probable XI for the first T20I in Delhi might look like.

Openers

Rohit Sharma

After his century against Australia in Nagpur, Rohit Sharma didn't cross 20 in the next four international matches. But you cannot keep a good man down and the opener finished the ODI series with his maiden century against New Zealand, which turned out to be a match-winning effort.

After becoming the fastest India batsman to score 150 ODI sixes, the 30-year-old will be looking to continue his good form into the T20I series.

Shikhar Dhawan

The southpaw just has a solitary fifty in his last seven internationals, which also include four single-digit scores. However, his partnership with Rohit Sharma looks set to continue in Delhi, where the 31-year-old will be looking to improve his record in T20Is and set the stage on fire in front of his adoring home crowd.

Middle-order

Kohli will be looking to continue his splendid form in Delhi

Virat Kohli

There is simply no stopping Virat Kohli in 2017. During the ODI series against New Zealand, the Indian captain broke a slew of world records, including the record for fastest to 9,000 ODI runs and also crossed the 2,000 mark in international cricket in 2017.

Having been dismissed for a duck in his last T20I, Kohli will be looking to fire on all cylinders in the first T20I, especially in front of his home crowd. The 28-year-old needs just 38 runs to overtake Tillakaratne Dilshan into second place on the list of most runs in T20Is and that should serve as added incentive for the captain to light up the occasion once again.

Dinesh Karthik

In the revolving door that is India's search for a No.4 batsman, Dinesh Karthik looks like the latest player to audition for the role. Having finished the New Zealand with an average of 105, Karthik looks set to play that role in the first T20I against New Zealand.

MS Dhoni

Rumours of MS Dhoni's dip in form have been greatly exaggerated and the 36-year-old wicketkeeper has had a great 2017 so far. He will don the gloves once again for the first T20I, during which he will go into fourth place on the list of players who have played the most T20Is.

All-rounders

Pandya might have to shoulder more responsibility with the bat

Hardik Pandya

The limelight has been on Hardik Pandya ever since he made his international debut and while he has continued to deliver, he knows that he can't take anything for granted. After a stellar ODI series against Australia, his performances have dipped in the T20I series and the recently-concluded ODI series against New Zealand.

The all-rounder from Baroda will know that such is the competition for places that if he doesn't keep performing, he could soon find himself out of the side, much like Kedar Jadhav, who didn't make it to the T20I squad to face New Zealand.

Axar Patel

The exclusion of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja has meant that Axar Patel has got more opportunities in the last two series. While Kohli has been committed at times to playing two wrist spinners, Axar Patel has shown the control that he can bring with the ball.

That coupled with his hitting ability means that he looks set to continue in the side as the second spinner.

Spinner

Chahal will be looking to continue his impressive start to international cricket

Yuzvendra Chahal

Ever since he rose to prominence by proving to be incredibly consistent for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, Yuzvendra Chahal has been marked as a ideal performer in T20Is. He has continually shown that he is more than just a T20I specialist and the 27-year-old spinner, who registered the best figures by an Indian bowler in T20Is earlier this year, will look to continue his impressive start to his international career.

With subtle variations and a knack for knowing just how to control runs and pick up wickets when the going gets tough, Chahal has proven himself to be a handy customer with the ball. He will continue as the first-choice spinner at Delhi, where he will look to repay the faith yet again.

Seamers

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has developed into a crucial asset in white ball cricket

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Saying that Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been in splendid form would be an understatement as the right-arm fast bowler has grown into one of the most complete fast bowlers in limited-overs cricket. Capable of delivering at the start of the innings with swing and at the end with his variations, Bhuvneshwar has become an integral part of the Indian white ball set-up.

His combination with Jasprit Bumrah at the death overs has given Kohli and India what they have been lacking for a long time, consistency.

Jasprit Bumrah

Speaking of consistency, Jasprit Bumrah seems to be solution to all of India's death bowlers for which, they scoured the country for answers. His performance in the third ODI against New Zealand was proof of his incredible skill and ability to nail his yorkers. With 50 wickets already in the calendar year, Bumrah will be looking to continue his incredible year with more wickets in the first T20I.

Despite making his T20I debut just last year, he is already India's second leading wicket-taker in T20Is and he will be looking to close the gap before the conclusion of this series.

Ashish Nehra

The career of one of India's finest fast bowlers looks set to come to an end in the first T20I in Delhi as Ashish Nehra bids farewell to cricket on his home ground. Nearly two decades on from his debut, the left-arm pacer will play his final match for India and he will be looking to make it count, just as he has done since his return to the T20I side last year.