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Nagpur: India's superb build-up run has made Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men favourites for an unprecedented second World T20 title.
The in-form hosts, however, will have to guard against complacency when they take on a spirited New Zealand in their campaign-opener here on Tuesday.
No host country has won the T20 world title in the last five editions and none has repeated a title triumph, but India's settled combination, led by Dhoni, and familiarity with the conditions make them the odds-on favourites to script history.
The 2007 champions India go into the Super 10 Group 2 clash against New Zealand with their tails up as the number one ranked team in the world.
India have been on a roll in the shortest form of the game, winning their last seven outings which included a 3-0 whitewash of Australia in the latter's backyard.
They then went on to win the Asia Cup on a canter after beating Sri Lanka at home 2-1.
New Zealand too have the players to trouble India although they would be missing the fire-power and attacking captaincy of Brendon McCullum who retired recently.
Led by Kane Williamson, a classically elegant batsman who ups his gears when opening in T20Is, the Kiwis are well-served with a set of explosive batsmen in Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Grant Elliott, Ross Taylor and Corey Anderson.
They have a very good pace battery, including left-right combinations, and a varied spin attack to fall upon in the middle overs, for containment as well as taking wickets.
The Kiwis had also won four out of their last five T20 Internationals -- against Pakistan and Sri Lanka - but showed little hints of vulnerability to spin by England who checked in their stunning progress in the warm-up game in Mumbai.
A packed house, which will be a huge plus for India is expected to be treated to some thrilling on-field action at the Jamtha stadium.
Teams from
India - MS Dhoni (Capt. & wk), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashish Nehra, Harbhajan Singh, Mohammed Shami and Pawan Negi
New Zealand - Kane Williamson (Capt.), Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Grant Elliott, Corey Anderson, Colin Munro, Mitchell McClenaghan, Mitchell Santner, Nathan McCullum, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Adam Milne, Ish Sodhi and Luke Ronchi (wk)
Head to head
New Zealand v India - Twenty International Records (Since 2007)
Total Match - 4
New Zealand Won - 4
Match facts
Tuesday March 15, 2016 (day/night)
Start time 1930 local (1400 GMT)
