Team India is scheduled to lock horns against New Zealand in the 3rd T20I at McLean Park in Napier on November 22 (Tuesday). Ahead of the last match of the T20I series, all eyes are on the weather in Napier as rain has played a part in both of the previous encounters. Talking about the weather in Napier currently, it was a very hot afternoon in the city with clear blue skies until it became extremely dark and started drizzling. Even earlier in the day, dark clouds were hovering around the corner and there was a possibility of rain.
The weather in New Zealand is extremely fickle and changes quite rapidly. The match is scheduled to start at 7.30 pm New Zealand time. As things stand right now and with rain predicted in the evening, expect a stop-start game unless rain Gods show some mercy.
Even in the second T20I, which India won by 65 runs, the game was briefly halted because of the rain during India's innings. No overs were lost as Suryakumar Yadav's stormy innings overshadowed the brief hiatus. The first T20I between India and New Zealand on November 18 (Friday) was called-off without a single ball bowled as the rain Gods showed no mercy at the Sky Stadium in Wellington. The relentless rain had earlier forced a delay in the toss and as the downpour continued, the game was abandoned without even the coin flip taking place.
One can only hope that the rain stays away and cricket takes centerstage once again in Napier.
India are touring New Zealand for a three-match T20I and ODI series. Both teams are coming into the match following their exit from the semifinal stage of the T20 World Cup in Australia. While India lost to eventual champions England, New Zealand were defeated by Pakistan.
New Zealand's squad: Tim Southee (c), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway (wk), Lockie Ferguson, Daryl Mitchell, Adam Milne, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Mark Chapman.
India's squad: Hardik Pandya (c), Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik.
