This is the first time that India will take on New Zealand in a Twenty20 International without the services of MS Dhoni. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
New Delhi:
Virat Kohli's Indian cricket team will be playing a five-match bilateral Twenty20 International series for the first time when they take on New Zealand from January 24. The Indian cricket team have lost only two out of their last 17 Twenty20 series, with the losses coming against Australia and New Zealand. India have a woeful record against New Zealand in the shortest format of the game and this upcoming series is a very important clash when it comes to the build-up for the World T20. India have not won the World T20 ever since 2007 and have lost in the knock-out stages in the last two edition in 2014 and 2016. New Zealand, on the other hand, have always stumbled in crucial moments in the tournament.
India have a superior or even head-to-head record against most teams in Twenty20 Internationals barring New Zealand. Kohli's side did not win their first five encounters against the Blackcaps while their record in New Zealand is woeful. Ahead of the five-match series, here are the key stats in Twenty20 International contests between the two teams.
27.27 - India's winning percentage against New Zealand in T20Is which is the least. They have an even record against England and they have a winning percentage of 57 against Australia but they have struggled against New Zealand.
8 - Number of losses for India in Twenty20 International contests against New Zealand, which is the joint-most. India have lost eight matches against Australia but they have won 11 against them. Against New Zealand though, they have lost eight out of 11 contests in this format.
1 - Number of wins for India in Twenty20 Internationals in New Zealand. They lost the two-match series in 2009 0-2 while they lost the first game in 2019 in Wellington. They won the second game in Auckland but lost the third game by four runs in Hamilton. So, India trails 1-4 in New Zealand as well.
Colin Munro is the only player from both sides to have hit a century in T20I contests between India and New Zealand. (Image credit: Getty Images)
0 - Number of wins for India in World T20 contests against New Zealand. They lost the 2007 clash in Johannesburg by 10 runs and lost the 2016 Nagpur clash by 47 runs in their chase of 126.
79 - India achieved their second-lowest total in Twenty20 Internationals and it came against New Zealand in the World T20 clash in 2016 at Jamtha, Nagpur. Their lowest total remains 74 which took place against Australia at Melbourne in 2008.
1 - Only one century has been scored in 11 Twenty20 International contests between India and New Zealand. Colin Munro blasted an unbeaten 109 in the Rajkot Twenty20 International in 2017.
80 - The highest individual score by an Indian batsman in T20Is against New Zealand. Rohit Sharma smashed the knock of 55 balls in the Delhi T20I in 2017, which was incidentally India's first win in the format against New Zealand.
84 - The highest individual score by a batsmen from both sides in T20I contests in New Zealand. Tim Seifert smashed 84 in the Wellington T20I in 2019. 261 - The most number of runs scored overall in T20I contests between India and New Zealand. Former skipper Brendon McCullum holds the record, followed by 248 by Colin Munro. MS Dhoni of India is third and the highest Indian on the list with 223.
1 - Only one player has featured in all T20I contests for India against New Zealand so far and that is MS Dhoni. However, with his non-selection, India will be playing a T20I against the Blackcaps for the first time without Dhoni.
11 - The most number of wickets taken by a bowler in T20I contests between New Zealand and India. Ish Sodhi has played seven matches and is the leading wicket-taker.
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3 - Number of bowlers who have taken a four-wicket haul in New Zealand vs India T20Is. Trent Boult, Mitchell Santner and Daniel Vettori have taken four-wicket hauls while no Indian bowler has a four-wicket haul. The best haul by an Indian is 3/28 by Krunal Pandya.
