David Warner

On a drop-in pitch where batting wasn't easy initially, India were aided by Dhawan and Gill having a solid opening stand of 124 in 23.1 overs after overcoming a slow start. Despite India losing four wickets for 36 runs in the middle stage of the innings, Iyer got India running towards a huge total by stitching a 94-run stand with Sanju Samson (36).

On Wednesday, Guptill, widely considered as one of New Zealand's best-ever white-ball openers, was granted a release from the central contract after he was dropped from the ongoing series against India and didn't get to play a single game in the T20 World Cup in Australia. "He's added so much value over the years and been, without doubt, one of our best white-ball players we ever had. There's no sort of questioning that.

New Zealand made one change in the playing XI as Mark Chapman came in place of regular captain Kane Williamson, who is missing this game due to a pre-arranged medical appointment. "We will bat. Looks like a pitch where we can put the runs on the board. We can't really control the weather, but the history of this ground suggests good batting conditions. Our bowling the other night wasn't the best, but credit to SKY. Mark Chapman comes in straightaway. You look back at places where we can improve as a team," said Southee at the toss.

The teams will play two matches at the DY Patil Stadium followed up by three at Brabourne Stadium. Young Phoebe Litchfield and former Ireland international Kim Garth have also secured a place on the tour of India, with all-rounder Heather Graham earning another call-up. McGrath stands in as vice-captain after the retirement of Rachael Haynes in the 15-member squad.

On Sunday, in front of a sell-out crowd at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, Suryakumar was on song in being promoted to number three, hitting 11 fours and seven sixes all over the park at a strike-rate of 217.65 to be unbeaten on 111 off 51 balls, his second T20I century to set the base for India's 65-run win.

On a sluggish pitch where almost all Indian batters found it tough to time the ball, Suryakumar, the top-ranked T20I batter, hit 11 fours and seven sixes all over the park at a strike-rate of 217.65 to be unbeaten on 111 off 51 balls, his second T20I century. For New Zealand, veteran pacer Tim Southee took his second T20I hat-trick to pick 3/34 in his four overs. Southee's hat-trick, on a day New Zealand's bowlers leaked runs aplenty, was pivotal in restricting India to below 200. India began the innings with Rishabh Pant whipping strongly past mid-on off Tim Southee in the opening over.

After the T20I series opener was washed out without a ball being bowled at Sky Stadium, Wellington, on Friday, there is a forecast of rain in the second T20I. But as of now, the atmosphere in the stadium has been dry with overcast skies. Williamson said the pitch and overcast conditions prompted him to bowl first, with Adam Milne coming in for Trent Boult in the playing eleven. "It's been under covers for a large part, and also potentially some weather around. Always a great occasion when you get to play against India," he said.

"Heavy rain around Wellington means the covers are on and the toss is delayed until further notice," wrote New Zealand through their official Twitter handle. "Toss at Sky Stadium, Wellington has been delayed due to persistent rains," tweeted the BCCI. Both India and New Zealand, the losing semi-finalists from the Men's T20 World Cup in Australia, will be facing off in a three-match T20I series, followed by as many ODIs, from November 18-30.

With stand-in head coach VVS Laxman insisting that the Hardik Pandya-led side, without many regular stars, will be looking to play fearless and flexible cricket during the series, it also kickstarts the road towards the 2024 T20 World Cup. After going out of the tournament in the Super 12 stage in 2021, India's adopted an ultra-attacking approach with the bat, which gave them results in the bilateral series.

Currently, Rohit Sharma is the Indian skipper across all formats. But India are being led by Hardik Pandya for the T20I series against New Zealand while Shikhar Dhawan will take over as the skipper in the ODI series against the Blackcaps as selectors decided to rest Rohit and other senior players after the end of T20 World Cup.