IND Vs NZ 3rd T20: India Win Toss, Opt To Bowl; Vaibhav Suryavanshi Retains His Place

Wellington: The third match of the five-match T20 series between India and New Zealand is being played in Wellington on Tuesday. Indian captain Shreyas Iyer has won the toss and decided to bowl first. Team India has not made any changes in its playing eleven, while New Zealand has entered the field with three changes. India is leading 2-0 in the series after winning both the initial matches. In such a situation, Team India's eyes are on winning the third match and winning the series.

Can India win the series today?

The Indian team had won both the matches by chasing the target. If India wins the third match, it will take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. On the other hand, this match is very important for New Zealand. The host team would like to maintain hopes of returning to the series with a win.

Who is included in India's playing XI?

The Indian team has not made any changes in its playing eleven for the third T20. Sanju Samson will play the role of wicketkeeper, while Vaibhav Suryavanshi is included in the batting order along with Abhishek Sharma. However, it will be interesting to see at which number Vaibhav will come to bat.

India's playing XI: Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh and Prince Yadav.

We go unchanged for the 3️⃣rd T20I in Wellington 📝 Updates ▶️ https://t.co/zf4CnZQ8CD #TeamIndia | #NZvIND https://t.co/J7tp6A9WNV

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 27, 2026

Which three players did New Zealand drop?

Host New Zealand has made three changes in its team. Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson and Nathan Smith have not found a place in the playing XI. Matthew Fisher, Kyle Jamieson and Adam Milne have been included in their place. The team is being captained by Mitchell Santner.

New Zealand's playing XI: Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Bevon Jacobs, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne, Jacob Duffy and Matthew Fisher.

What is New Zealand's weakness in bowling?

In the first two matches of the series, New Zealand's fast bowlers could not create the required pressure on the Indian batsmen. According to the available data, the Kiwi spinners performed better and took eight wickets, while the fast bowlers got only four wickets. In such a situation, the success of the host team in the third match will largely depend on the performance of its bowlers.

Match Status: India won the toss and elected to bowl. India is leading 2-0 in the series and will try to capture the series by winning the third match.