Predicting India’s playing XI for T20I series:Shreyas to bat at number three? Samson or Ishan, who will be the wicketkeeper?

India and New Zealand are set to lock horns in what promises to be a fascinating five-match T20I series. These five matches will be extremely crucial for Team India as this will be the last assignment for the Men in Blue before the T20 World Cup 2026. Ahead of the T20I series against New Zealand, it will be interesting to see what playing XI India come up with. India’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand will start on 21 January and will come to an end on 31 January. Shreyas Iyer to bat at number three? Shreyas Iyer was a surprise inclusion in India’s T20I squad after Tilak Varma was ruled out due to a surgery he underwent for an abdominal issue. Earlier, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had announced that Tilak was out only for the first three T20Is. But later, another statement named Iyer named as his replacement for the first three matches. His last T20I appearance was in 2023 against Australia and as Tilak’s replacement, he should ideally bat at number three. However, that’s not it. With Tilak missing the first three T20Is, the Team India management can also slot Ishan Kishan to bat at number three. Kishan made a return to Team India after a memorable Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign, where he led Jharkhand to their maiden title. Given the fact that Kishan is also part of the T20 World Cup squad, it will also make sense to have him play at number three instead of Iyer, who, in this regard, is just a temporary replacement for Tilak. Also read: Indian cricketers enjoy jungle safari in Nagpur before 1st T20I: Sanju Samson, Ravi Bishnoi share glimpses; T20I series starts on 21 Jan Samson or Ishan, who will keep wickets? Sanju Samson or Ishan Kishan–who will be Team India’s wicketkeeper? This is another question that Team India will have to find an answer to. While picking a wicketkeeper out of the two might not exactly be a concern if both are part of the playing XI, it will become a conundrum if only one gets to play. Samson made his return to the top of the order in the Ahmedabad T20I against South Africa after warming the bench with Team India preferring Shubman Gill as Abhishek Sharma’s partner. But now that Gill is not part of the squad both the New Zealand T20I series or the T20 World Cup, picking Samson might be an absolute no-brainer. However, Kishan has had domestic success behind his belt and is a tough competitor for Samson at the top of the order. It also has to be kept in mind that having two left-handers open the innings might not be the option Gautam Gambhir and his management team picks. If both Samson and Kishan play, the former might just get to keep wickets, given the fact that he has donned the gloves whenever he has played. But nothing is certain as of now. Rinku Singh or Harshit Rana? Who could be part of the playing XI? If someone asked this question several months ago, it would have met with abject laughter. And even now, weighing Rinku Singh and Harshit Rana on the same scale might not make sense. But the recent developments in Indian cricket cannot be ignored. Harshit very clearly shared that the Indian management wanted to groom him as an all-rounder and the Delhi cricketer showed his capabilities with the bat against New Zealand in the ODIs, hitting 83 runs in three matches with one half-century. Having Harshit in the playing XI will also give India an additional bowling option, something that goes by Gambhir’s playbook. And it won’t be surprising to see him cement a spot in the XI if he keeps excelling with both bat and ball. But in Rinku, India have a designated finisher who can clear the fence at will and provide acceleration in the death overs. The left-hander’s last appearance in a T20I was last year in Australia and there’s no doubting his capabilities when it comes to clearing the fence. One can even make a choice between picking Rinku or Shivam Dube in the XI, but the latter seems to be a clearer choice at this stage, given that he also bowls regularly. It remains to be seen if Rinku is included in the playing XI and if he is, then at whose expense. Also read: Virat Kohli-Anushka Sharma purchase 2nd-property in Alibaug for ₹37.86 crore: Star couple acquires another land parcel in beach town despite London stay Suryakumar Yadav’s form a big concern Not just team combination, but India also have a major concern, captain Suryakumar Yadav’s form. The T20I skipper has been far from his best for quite some time now and with not much time left for the T20 World Cup to start, this is a problem that needs solving at the earliest. The right-hander has had 22 innings without a single half-century and has had failed to dominate both the pacers and spinners. The 35-year-old, however, has vowed to bounce to back to form and it will be interesting to see how he fares in the five T20Is. Bowling combination Another question India will need an answer to is the bowling combination. Will India go in with a spin-heavy attack (3 spinners two pacers) or would it be vice versa? Among the players who are absolute certainties are Axar Patel, as he is the vice-captain and the duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy, given the impact they make every time they play. Apart from Bumrah, India have genuine fast bowling options in Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube. Also, Harshit Rana, who can add some runs with the bat as well. In that case, the toss-up will be between Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav. If India opt for an extra pacer, Arshdeep Singh could be picked and if an extra spinner is required, Kuldeep Yadav might get the nod. India will have a total of five T20Is to try and find an answer to all these questions and work on a winning combination for the T20 World Cup 2026. Suryakumar Yadav and his men are the defending champions, having won the title in 2024 under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy.