Experienced pacers Tim Southee and Trent Boult's absence leaves a ‘massive hole’ in the New Zealand squad but it also provides a chance to fringe players to step up during the India tour, stand-in-captain Tom Latham said on Tuesday (January 17). While Southee has gone back home after a successful tour of Pakistan, Boult is playing the ILT20 in the UAE, having opted out of a New Zealand central contract, ahead of Black Caps’ first ODI of three-match series against India in Hyderabad on Wednesday (January 18).


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In the batting department, the Kiwis will miss the services of regular skipper Kane Williamson. “They (Boult, Southee, Williamson) are not in the side and that leaves a massive hole for us. On the other hand, it presents an opportunity for other guys who have been around the squad. Everyone has played international cricket in the squad which is a bonus,” Latham during the pre-match press conference.


“It is their turn to step up. Lucky we have Lockie Ferguson who has played a lot of cricket in India,” said Latham.


Ferguson will lead the pace attack in the company of Blair Tickner, Doug Bracewell and Henry Shipley. The southpaw also informed that senior spinner Ish Sodhi has been ruled out of the first ODI due to a niggle.


India vs New Zealand 1st ODI Match Details


Venue: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad


Date & Time: January 18, 130pm IST onwards


Live Streaming and TV details: Star Sports Network and Disney+ Hotstar website and app.


IND vs NZ 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction


Wicketkeeper: Tom Latham


Batters: Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav


All-rounders: Michael Bracewell, Hardik Pandya


Bowlers: Lockie Ferguson, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj


Captain: Virat Kohli


Vice-captain: Devon Conway


India vs New Zealand 1st ODI Match Predicted 11


India: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Ishan Kishan, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Umran Malik


New Zealand: Michael Bracewell, Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, Henry Shipley, Tom Latham (C), Glenn Phillips, Lockie Ferguson, Blair Tickner, Matt Henry