New Zealand vs India 2019: 3 key player battles in T20I series

Shikhar Dhawan vs Tim Southee

Shikhar is the highest run scorer in T20Is since the start of 2018

Since the start of 2018, Shikhar Dhawan has been in blistering T20I form. With 689 runs, he is the highest scorer in this period and his runs have come at a strike rate of 147.22, higher than his career strike rate of 132.90. Owing to the quick starts provided by Dhawan, India have a win-loss ratio of 3.5 in this period, second only to Pakistan. Against New Zealand this tour, he scored two fifties to start of the ODIs, but struggled in final three games because of poor footwork against the moving ball.

With Trent Boult rested, Tim Southee will be back in playing 11. He will look to challenge Dhawan with fuller deliveries that swing away. Dhawan will have to be careful at the start of the innings, especially after swing jolted India’s top order in last two ODIs.