India vs New Zealand 3rd T20I 2026 Match Preview & Analysis

India is geared up to take on New Zealand in the upcoming T20I match at Guwahati. They have outclassed the Kiwis in the last two matches, which is why they are also confident to win the 3rd T20I. However, the potential of New Zealand cannot be underestimated in the next match, as they also have the ability to turn the tables against India. It is therefore expected to be a thrilling match, in which fans will experience quality cricket from both sides.

The upcoming contest between India vs New Zealand could once again prove to be a run fest. Both teams have a power-packed batting lineup, capable of posting 200+ scores on the board. The pitches in India largely support these kinds of scores, as they are precisely made to produce big totals. The 2nd T20I between India and New Zealand gave a perfect example of that, showcasing how even 200+ scores are chaseable on Indian pitches. This gives a lot of confidence to the batters who like to play big shots by taking the advantage of such pitches.

In this article, we will discuss the next India vs New Zealand match in detail. We will take a look at the key players of both teams, and the strategies with which they will try to win the game. Let’s first take a look at how India romped to victory in the 2nd T20I against New Zealand at Raipur.

A Quick Recap of 2nd T20I Between India and New Zealand

India defeated New Zealand in the 2nd T20I with a commanding performance in the second innings. The batting masterclass of Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav stunned the Kiwis who were hoping to defend 208 in the second innings. Despite taking two early wickets, New Zealand let the momentum shift away by bowling poor overs. It allowed India to come back into the match and put the pressure back on Kiwi bowlers.

A big partnership between Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav took the game away from New Zealand, as their bowlers felt helpless on the lifeless Raipur surface. India is used to producing big scores on such batting pitches, as it suits their style of play. Despite getting a target of 209, they were confident from the start to win the match. Their batters proved exactly why the Indian dugout was optimistic, as the target was chased down inside 15.2 overs. This showcases that the Indian batters are ready to hunt down any score as long as they keep getting flat pitches in the series.

Match Strategy of New Zealand for 3rd T20I

New Zealand need to come up with a strong plan to counter India in the 3rd T20I. They know that Indian batters love to play on flat pitches, so they would take their chances to hunt down any sort of score. This brings the bowling strategy of New Zealand into picture, as it needs to put the brakes on their scoring rates.

The openers of India aren’t technically strong, but they get assistance from the pitch to play aggressive cricket. New Zealand would look to strengthen their field placement to put pressure on India. They utilized this strategy perfectly in the recent ODI series, giving them an upper hand over a more experienced Indian lineup.

As far as batting is concerned, New Zealand batters are performing well at the moment. They just need to become more fearless in their approach, as the pitches in India are conducive for batting. They would look to score a big total in the next game as well, so that their bowlers can get room to defend it effectively.

Key Players for New Zealand

Rachin Ravindra

Rachin Ravindra is pure class, as he has the ability to take down any bowler. In a very young age, he has shown a lot of maturity at the international level. This is the key reason why New Zealand relies on him heavily. He is one of those batters who can play under any situation. He reads the game well and creates plans accordingly. His performance in the next match would be crucial, as he is due for some runs in the series.

Daryl Mitchell

Daryl Mitchell is a complete package for New Zealand who can perform in both innings. He is a specialist batter, but his bowling skills are also good. Due to that, he provides a strong sixth bowling option to the team, capable of picking wickets in the middle overs. He played well in the recently concluded ODI series, so expectations are high from him to perform in the ongoing T20I series as well.

Match Strategy of India for 3rd T20I

India is looking forward to win the next match by utilizing the advantage of its home conditions. Their batters love to play on flat pitches, so the upcoming game will also give them a similar opportunity to make big scores. They dominated New Zealand with a similar approach in the previous games, so the strategy will remain the same for the next one. They can make some changes in the middle order to test the bench strength ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, as the pressure on India is less as compared to New Zealand.

The bowling attack of India needs to come up with a smart plan in the next game. They were disappointing in the 2nd T20I, as New Zealand batters took them to the cleaners in the first innings. With the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav, they will expect for a better show in the 3rd T20I, though it won’t be a straightforward task for them on a batting friendly surface.

Key Players for India

Ishan Kishan

Taking a look at the previous match, we can see that Ishan Kishan is in a good form at the moment. He will be a vital player for India in the 3rd T20I, as he is batting up the order. If he starts well in the Powerplay, India will get a big chance to score a big total. Ishan also understands the conditions of Guwahati very well, as he has played a lot of domestic cricket here. Keeping that in consideration, he will aim to make an impact again in the match, so that India can get a solid batting foundation.

Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah didn’t play the last India vs New Zealand match, so he could be part of the playing XI in the third T20I. He is a proven match-winner who has delivered many memorable performances for India. Although the pitch conditions may not be in Bumrah’s favour, he will still try to extract some swing in the opening overs. This makes him a threat to the New Zealand openers, who are not comfortable facing a swinging ball early in the innings. Besides the first six overs, Bumrah also plays a vital role at the death, which is why the Indian team relies on him heavily.

Probable Playing XI for New Zealand

Devon Conway, Tim Seifert (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), Zakary Foulkes, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy.

Probable Playing XI for India

Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy

Final Words

Having won the first two matches, India will take the field in the next match to seal the series. They have the momentum to beat New Zealand again, however, it would require plenty of hard work on the field. Their batters are in good form, which means we can again expect a big score from them in the next contest. As far as New Zealand are concerned, they will try to defeat India to keep the series alive. The onus will be specifically on their bowling lineup, as it has to make an impact in the match to give Kiwi fans some hope for the rest of the series.