India's T20 squad for the Auckland match: Two options for Gaththam Gurvir's decision

The third T20 match in the series between India and New Zealand will take place at Sky Stadium in Wellington, also known as Cake Tin. The Indian team has already taken the lead by winning the first two out of five scheduled matches. Now New Zealand faces the challenge of saving the series.

Due to Ishan Kishan's absence, Vaibhav Suryavanshi is expected to get another chance to feature in the third spot in the squad.

To get the latest updates and score of this match, it is recommended to regularly refresh the page as it is constantly updated.

The Indian team started 2026 by winning the T20 World Cup title. The team became the first to retain this title for the second time, losing only one match across two tournaments. Nevertheless, after this, India had to concede the series to Ireland. The team also suffered a defeat in the England series. On home soil, without Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, the series against West Indies was leveled at 2-2.

However, the situation changed during the tour of New Zealand. Despite the lush fields and strong winds, India won the first two matches against the team that was the World Cup finalist. India has won 9 of the last 10 T20 matches against New Zealand. In previous Test and ODI series, however, New Zealand secured victories.

India benefited from both better execution of fielding plans and poor fielding by New Zealand. The pitch conditions in Wellington will be different; the square boundaries for the fourth and sixth overs are approximately 60 meters away, unlike Christchurch, where stronger wind influence is expected.

New Zealand has lost its last two home series to India and hopes to avoid losing the third consecutive series.

In the first two matches between the teams, New Zealand spinners Mitchell Santner and Michael Bresshaw combined for 8 wickets, conceding 132 runs in 16 overs. On the other hand, India utilized only one specialist spinner, Axar Patel, who has conceded about 10 runs per over so far.

The uncertainty among Indian batsmen regarding risk when facing spinners also created problems. Tilak Verma showed an average strike rate of 76 against spinners, but 220 against fast bowlers. Sanju Samson and Naman Diri demonstrated greater aggression against spinners. India needs to score faster in the middle order so that batsmen like Tilak are not forced to show a high strike rate only against fast bowlers later.

Ishan Kishan has not fully recovered yet. In this situation, Vaibhav Suryavanshi may get the opportunity to play in the third spot. He played for the Indian team at the Asian Games but has not yet been included in the main squad for this tour.

India adheres to a strategy that does not compromise on the hitting abilities of the top five batsmen. The team preferred Naman Diri over Shivam Dube, although Dube offers the option of additional fast bowling. India does not have a specialized player at number eight who can bat well simultaneously. Therefore, Nitish Kumar Reddy might be included in the squad. Reddy performed well in the 19th over in the previous two matches.

Matt Henry bowled only two overs in the last match, one of which was without conceding any runs. He has now been excluded from the T20 series, considering other formats. Loki Ferguson is excluded only from this match. New Zealand has options in Adam Milne and Blair Tickner for the upcoming matches. Kyle Jamieson may also be included in this match, after which he will compete for the Ford Trophy.

There is a possibility of including a left-handed batsman in New Zealand's top five batsmen, but Bowen Jackson has shown good form until now.

Projected New Zealand squad: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wicketkeeper), Bowen Jackson/Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bresshaw, Mitchell Santner (captain), Nathan Smith, Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne, Jacob Duffy.

Projected India squad: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Verma, Naman Diri, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Prince Yadav, Arshdeep Singh.

In the previous T20 International match played in Wellington, the team won by defending 164 runs. However, a target of 216 runs was successfully chased at this ground. It is expected that bowlers will receive assistance at the current venue, but it is not necessarily that the pitch will be slow due to the low score.

Strong winds were present before the match, and there was a possibility of rain. However, it is predicted that the weather during the match will remain more stable, without precipitation and with moderate or strong winds.

Tilak Verma was undefeated 26 times in pursuit of the target in T20, and his team won in each of these matches, which is an important indicator for the Indian team.

Furthermore, Arshdeep Singh took 38 wickets in 2026. He became a full-fledged team player who achieved this result in a calendar year.

Despite the Indian team demonstrating dominance in the T20 series against New Zealand, taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match tournament, there is another side to the coin. While the Indian batsmen are playing successfully, their bowlers are struggling to make an impression.

In the upcoming match on Tuesday, India will face the task not only of winning the series but also of addressing shortcomings in their bowling game. This match will start in Wellington at 12:30 Indian time. The team, led by Shreyas Iyer, intends to maintain its momentum towards victories.

However, attention will be focused on the players responsible for bowling in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who has been rested, and during Hardik Pandya's recovery period. Special hope is placed on Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh, who are expected to deliver better performances.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar's return to international cricket after four years away has not yet met expectations. In the first two matches played in Christchurch, he conceded 49 and 50 runs respectively for his four overs. An experienced swing bowler was expected to trouble the New Zealand batsmen with his cunning and precise line and length, but so far he has not managed this.

Nevertheless, Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel supported Bhuvneshwar, noting that there is a significant difference between local level training and the pressure of international cricket. Bhuvneshwar had to prepare for his return to the team in a short time, and even small mistakes at the international level can prove costly.

The reserve ground in Wellington will be a new test for Bhuvneshwar. The strong and variable winds blowing there can help the ball swing. Bhuvneshwar has a chance to demonstrate his strength, but India needs not only his experience but also wickets and economical bowling.

Arshdeep Singh's role will also be crucial. This left-arm fast bowler has the ability to direct the ball away from right-handed batsmen and inwards when necessary. Top-order batsmen in New Zealand include Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, and Daryl Mitchell, who have yet to show their full potential in the series.

In the hosts' batting lineup, Glenn Phillips made a significant contribution, scoring half-centuries in the middle order. Ben Vance also scored runs in the previous match. India aims to prevent New Zealand from posting a large score by taking early wickets.

The hosts may also lack fast bowlers Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry, who were rested as part of workload management. Matt Fisher and Blair Tickner were included instead. This could be a relief for the Indian batsmen, but they will have to play according to the conditions.

Indian batsmen brought the team wins in high-scoring matches in the first two games. However, the cold evenings of New Zealand and the strong winds in Wellington will not make the game easy. Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi must focus on their technique and shot selection in these conditions.

Vaibhav's performance in New Zealand conditions will be important experience for his future. The opportunities gained in international cricket at such a young age can help him improve his game.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir's strategy of using Tilak Verma, Naman Dira, and Nitish Kumar Reddy in the middle order proved effective in the first two matches. India tested 13 players in the first two games. Vaibhav Suryavanshi got a chance instead of injured Ishan Kishan, and in the second match, Prince Yadav replaced Mainak Yadav.

India won the five-match T20 series against New Zealand during the 2020 tour with a score of 5-0. In the next tour in 2022-23, the Indian team also won this match, which was not cancelled due to bad weather. Now the team has another opportunity to assert its dominance in New Zealand.

A win on Tuesday will give India an undisputed 3-0 advantage in the five-match series. However, the importance of this match is not limited to just winning the series. Batting has helped the team get through difficulties so far; now the bowlers must also justify the trust. Scoring big is good, but a strong team is one that can restrict the opponent's batsmen.

Due to a muscle injury sustained during a game, vice-captain and batsman Ishan Kishan has been dropped from the Indian squad for not only the second but also the third T20 match against New Zealand.

The third match of this five-match series between India and New Zealand is scheduled for Tuesday, October 27, at Sky Stadium in Wellington. Fans were expecting Kishan's return as he was in excellent form.

The injury, which is a low-grade adductor strain in his right lower leg, was sustained by Ishan Kishan on October 22 during the first match of the series in Christchurch. The 28-year-old was advised to take a break to prevent further damage. Kumar Kushagra has been included in his place in the team.

Meanwhile, the players are ready for the second match of the series at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. India captain Shreyas Iyer decided to start the game with a coin toss and opt for bowling first. The Indian team aims to maintain its winning streak, having achieved an impressive target of 226 runs in the first T20 match.

In the first match, Sandeep Samson delivered an impressive performance, scoring 67 runs off just 33 balls, while captain Shreyas Iyer added 42 runs. Following this, young Naman Dheer secured a brilliant victory for the team, scoring 42 runs off only 15 balls without getting out.

Despite Kishan's absence, the Indian team, which currently leads the series 1-0, is fully prepared to continue its winning run. At the same time, the host side, New Zealand, will make every effort to return to the game.