IND vs NZ: Key battles to watch out for in ICC World Twenty20 opener

Nagpur: Cricket fans can be rest assured of some thrilling action in the first match of the ICC World Twenty20 where India take on New Zealand.

Both the teams comprise some of the most powerful and flamboyant cricketers that can set the tournament ablaze from the first match itself.

Here are some of the key battles to watch out for:

Ashish Nehra vs Martin Guptill: Both are seasoned campaigners and masters of their skills. While Guptill is someone who looks to attack from the word go, Nehra is one of the rare Indian bowlers who can swing the balls both ways, even at 36. Fans can be rest assured of some great action from these two in the powerplay overs.

R Ashwin vs Kane Williamson: In Brendon McCullum's absence, onus is on Williamson to carry forward the former's legacy. On the other hand, R Ashwin is one spinner, whose redemption in world cricket in the last 15 months has made India a force to reckon with in all formats of the game. Both of them are vital cogs for their respective teams and it remains to be seen who wins this duel.

Tim Southee vs Rohit Sharma: The Hitman has done justice to his talent since the beginning of this year where he has played some scintillating knocks in limited-overs cricket. On the other hand, Southee is New Zealand's premier pacer, who wreaked havoc in the ICC World Cup 2015 with his variation. The challenge for Southee is to contain the flamboyant right-hander from unleashing his big-hitting skills.

Trent Boult vs Virat Kohli: Boult is another Kiwi pacer the Indian batsmen would be wary of. But with the kind of form Virat Kohli has been in over the years, he can make life miserable for the best of bowlers with his class and shot-making prowess under pressure. This one too, makes for an exciting contest.