India vs New Zealand 2023: 5 Players to watch out for in Series

India and New Zealand are set to lock horns in the three-match ODI series followed by the T20I series having the same number of matches. Both teams will play the first of the three-match ODI series at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Wednesday, the 18^th of December next week.

Advertisment

Both India and New Zealand are currently in action in the ongoing ODI assignments against Sri Lanka and Pakistan respectively. New Zealand leveled the three-match series by a score line of 1-1 against Pakistan. Whereas on the other hand, India has taken an unassailable lead of 2-0 against Sri Lanka in the three-match ODI series.

Looking at the lineups of India and New Zealand, it can be said that the contention is going to be tough during the six white-ball matches including both ODI and T20I formats.

Here we’ll have a look at five players to watch out for during the white-ball bilateral clash between India and New Zealand:

Advertisment

1. Virat Kohli

New Zealand tour of India 2023

Former Indian skipper and senior batter Virat Kohli broke several records with an amazing century in the first of the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka. The 34-year-old scored his career’s 45^th ODI century and the 20^th on Indian soil to equalize the record of former legendary Indian batter Sachin Tendulkar in terms of highest centuries on home soil.

Advertisment

Interestingly, Virat is now only five centuries away from breaking Master Blaster’s record of 49 ODI centuries which is the highest to date in the history of ODI cricket. As Virat has five white-ball assignments in those he is supposed to appear, so he would like to get much closer to a few more records in the upcoming series against New Zealand.

2. Axar Patel

IND vs NZ 2023 (Source: Twitter)

The star Indian all-rounder Axar Patel has amazed and impressed everyone with his impressive performance both with the bat and ball of late. In the last five white-ball matches including both T20I and ODI, Axar has scalped four wickets with the ball and also scored 147 runs with an average of almost 30.00 including two unbeaten knocks in the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka.

He also earned a lot of praise for his fighting knock of 65 runs against the Islanders during the second of the three-match T20I series at the MCA Stadium in Pune. Although, it ended up in a losing cause. So, the 28-year-old would also be a key player in India vs New Zealand series who might deliver some impactful performances.

3. Umran Malik

Umran Malik (IND vs NZ 2023)

The young Indian pace-bowling sensation from Jammu & Kashmir has left the entire cricketing fraternity awestruck with his raw, sheer, and lethal pace. The 23-year-old has recently become the first-ever bowler for India to deliver the fastest delivery in the ODIs by clocking the speed at 156 kmph in the ongoing white-ball assignment against Sri Lanka.

Umran has scalped five wickets in two of the three-match ODI series he played so far against Dasun Shanaka’s men. Earlier, he also finished scalping seven wickets in the three-match T20I series against the visitors and also ended up as the leading wicket-taker in the T20I series. The fans will also be expecting a tough fight between Umran and the Kiwi batters, who are used to playing pace bowling.

4. Tom Latham

Tom Latham (IND vs NZ 2023) ( Image Credit: Twitter)

The 30-year-old veteran wicketkeeper-batter Tom Latham is currently in action in the New Zealand colors during the ongoing three-match ODI series against Pakistan. Although, the 30-year-old failed to live up to the expectations in the second ODI series and could score only 2 runs with two catches and a stump behind the wickets.

But he played a crucial knock of 42 runs in the first of the three-match ODI series at the National Stadium in Karachi. In the first match, he succeeded in one stumping in the first match. Latham also led New Zealand in the first ODI against Pakistan. Latham would be a key player who can make a difference in the three-match ODI series against India.

5. Devon Conway

Devon Conway (India vs New Zealand 2023) ( Image Credit: Twitter)

The South Africa-born New Zealand cricketer has quietly earned a big name in a very short time while playing for New Zealand. The 31-year-old recently scored a brilliant ton of 101 runs in the second ODI against Pakistan at the National Stadium in Karachi. He is also at the fourth spot in the list of leading run-scorers in the ODI series.

The southpaw has scored 101 runs in two matches wicket with an average of 50.50 and he is set to be in action during the third and last of the three-match ODI series against Pakistan and New Zealand. Whereas having experience of playing on Indian surfaces during the Indian T20 League, Conway might play a vital role for the visitors during the upcoming white-ball assignment against India.