India begin World T20 title bid today

NAGPUR: The superb build-up run has made India the clear favourites for an unprecedented second World Twenty20 title but the in-form hosts will have to guard against complacency when they take on a spirited New Zealand in their campaign-opener here on Tuesday. No host country has won the T20 world title in the last five editions and none has repeated a title triumph, but India’s settled combination, led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and familiarity with the conditions make them the odds-on favourites to script history. The 2007 Champions, India go into the Super 10 Group 2 clash against New Zealand with their tails up as the number one ranked team in the world. India have been on a roll in the shortest form of the game, winning their last seven outings which included a 3-0 whitewash of World 50- over champions Australia in the latter’s backyard. They then went on to win the Asia Cup on a canter after beating Sri Lanka at home 2-1. Asia Cup win a morale booster The five consecutive wins in Dhaka, including in the summit clash against Bangladesh that led to their continental supremacy in the T20 game, has given the team a huge morale boost. The minor hiccup in India’s build-up to this competition was their loss to South Africa by four runs in a practice match and this was perhaps a wake-up call for the team to avoid being complacent. India do have the wherewithal and the personnel to script history and a win in Tuesday’s opening game at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha would give them the ideal momentum to take on the challenges ahead head-on. Kohli’s form to play a vital role Virat Kohli has been in terrific form, in the last two months. On top of his game, the Test skipper has made four half-centuries in seven innings, and two other scores in the 40s, besides leading four successful runchases. With an average of over 50 after 38 matches, he remains one of the players who will be feared by the opposition along with the equally talented Rohit Sharma who is set to play in his sixth WT20 championship. Jasprit Bumrah: India’s go-to man The unearthing of Jasprit Bumrah to bowl effectively at the early stages as well as in the death has given the team the much-needed goto-man when things don’t go as per plans. It’s in the spin department that they have an embarrassment of riches, barring a leg spinner. The duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja should be the front-runners to take up two spots and the team has the choice of adding either Harbhajan Singh or Pawan Negi to the combination. New Zealand: A tough rival New Zealand too have the players to trouble India although they would be missing the fire-power and attacking captaincy of Brendon McCullum who retired recently. Led by Kane Williamson, a classically elegant batsman who ups his gears when opening in T20Is, the Kiwis are well-served with a set of explosive batsmen in Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Grant Elliott, Ross Taylor and Corey Anderson. The Kiwis had also won four out of their last five T20 Internationals — against Pakistan and Sri Lanka – but Squads INDIA: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (C), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashish Nehra, Harbhajan Singh, Pawan Negi, Ajinkya Rahane, Mohammed Shami. NEW ZEALAND: Kane Williamson (C), Martin Guptill, Henry Nicholls, Luke Ronchi, Ross Taylor, Colin Munro, Mitchell Santer, Nathan McCullum, Grant Elliott, Mitchell McClenaghan, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Adam Milne, Ish Sodhi, Corey Anderson. INDIA V/S NEW ZEALAND; MATCH BEGINS AT 07:30 PM (IST) showed little hints of vulnerability to spin by England who checked in their stunning progress in the warm-up game in Mumbai. A packed house, which will be a huge plus for the Men in Blue is expected to be treated to some thrilling on-field action at the Jamtha stadium. (PTI)