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India’s WC prep enters home stretch: NZ series offers final chance to test formations

January 21, 2026

India’s T20 World Cup prep enters home stretch: New Zealand series offers final chance to test and tweak formations | Cricket News - The Times of IndiaEditionININUSEnglishEnglishहिन्दीमराठीಕನ್ನಡதமிழ்বাংলাമലയാളംతెలుగుગુજરાતીWeatherSign InTOIToday's ePaperNewsSports NewsCricket NewsIndia’s T20 World Cup prep enters home stretch: New Zealand series offers final chance to test and tweak formationsTrendingIND vs NZ T20I Full ScheduleVirat KohliDC vs MI Live ScoreVirat Kohli BrotherScotland Cricket TeamRamiz RazaAjinkya RahaneAUS vs JAP Live ScoreBAN vs NZ Live ScoreR AshwinIND vs NZ T20I Full ScheduleVirat KohliDC vs MI Live ScoreVirat Kohli BrotherScotland Cricket TeamRamiz RazaAjinkya RahaneAUS vs JAP Live ScoreBAN vs NZ Live ScoreR AshwinIND vs NZ T20I Full ScheduleVirat KohliDC vs MI Live ScoreVirat Kohli BrotherScotland Cricket TeamRamiz RazaAjinkya RahaneAUS vs JAP Live ScoreBAN vs NZ Live ScoreR AshwinIndia’s T20 World Cup prep enters home stretch: New Zealand series offers final chance to test and tweak formationsSandeep Dabhekar / TNN / Updated: Jan 21, 2026, 08:35 ISTCommentsShareAA+Text SizeSmallMediumLarge India T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav during a practice session. (ANI Photo) NAGPUR: Over the last two years, India in T20Is have been an irresistible force. Powered by a batting unit packed with big-hitters and attacking stroke-makers, a balanced bowling attack with full of variety, the reigning World T20 champions have won 72% of the matches in this period. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.

India’s WC prep enters home stretch: NZ series offers final chance to test formations

Credit: Indiatimes

Key Highlights

SUBSCRIBE NOW!With their playing XI sorted for the T20 World Cup, a bilateral series barely three weeks ahead of the marquee event should ideally have been all about last-minute fine-tuning for India.
Suryakumar Yadav press conference: On India T20I Playing XI, personal form and moreThe Kiwis, though, with their recent exploits, have forced India to approach the five-match series, beginning in Nagpur from Wednesday, as more than just a dress rehearsal for the T20 World Cup.
Just 447 kms away, on Sunday, New Zealand won their first ODI series in India in Indore.
A couple of years ago, the Kiwis broke India’s 12-year invincible home record in Tests with a 3-0 clean sweep. Up against their nemesis of sorts, India are led by a man desperately trying to rediscover his form.
With Suryakumar Yadav at the helm, India perfected the art of winning T20Is.

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India’s WC prep enters home stretch: NZ series offers final chance to test formations

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India’s WC prep enters home stretch: NZ series offers final chance to test formations

Key Highlights

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