IND vs NZ 2026: Aakash Chopra picks India XI for 1st T20I, no place for Rinku Singh

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has picked his India XI for the first T20I of the five-match series against New Zealand, set to be played on January 21 in Nagpur.

Chopra's went ahead with regular opener Abhishek Sharma with Sanju Samson. He slotted the returning Ishan Kishan at No. 3, one position above T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav. Chopra named Axar Patel as the lone spin-bowling all-rounder. 

"The XI could be something like this - Sanju Samson with Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan at No. 3, Suryakumar Yadav at No. 4 and then Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube and Axar Patel can be Nos. 5 to 7," Chopra shared in a video on his official YouTube channel.

Chopra's bowling lineup constituted Harshit Rana and Jasprit Bumrah playing together. While Varun Chakaravarthy was a sure shot pick, Chopra was undecided between including either of Arshdeep Singh or Kuldeep Yadav.

Harshit Rana at No. 8. Then you will have the option to go with Harshit and Jasprit Bumrah and then Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy can play together or else Arshdeep Singh, Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy, and there will be no place for Kuldeep," he added.

Aakash Chopra's India XI for 1st T20I vs New Zealand

Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh/Kuldeep Yadav

India enter the T20I series on the back of a damaging defeat in the 50-over leg of the white-ball series, losing one for the first time against the Kiwis at home. Suryakumar & Co. will aim to avenge that loss in the upcoming series.

The other games will be played in Raipur, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam and Thiruvananthapuram. The Men in Blue will then head into the T20 World Cup as defending champions.