The New Zealand team will face off against the West Indies squad in the opening T20 International of the West Indies tour of New Zealand 2025, taking place at Eden Park in Auckland. Both sides are approaching this series with a strong desire to establish their dominance in the T20 format, with New Zealand looking to enhance their T20I performance on their home turf, while the West Indies aim to build on their recent impressive showing in T20 cricket.
The New Zealand team includes seasoned players like captain Mitchell Santner, powerful hitter Tim Seifert, and versatile all-rounders such as Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell. The team’s batting lineup is strengthened by Seifert and Devon Conway, both known for their consistent starts and ability to score rapidly. Their bowling unit features promising fast bowlers Kyle Jamieson and Jacob Duffy, along with spin options in Santner and Bracewell, creating a well-rounded attack suited to the conditions at Eden Park.
The West Indies team, led by Shai Hope, enters the series with considerable confidence following a dominant performance in their recent T20 series against Bangladesh. Hope is currently in excellent form, with support from explosive batsmen like Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, and Brandon King, all capable of dramatically shifting the game’s momentum with aggressive hitting during the middle overs. The bowling attack, featuring Jayden Seales and Jason Holder, offers a mix of pace, variety, and control, posing a significant challenge to the New Zealand batsmen.
NZ vs WI, 1st T20I: Match Details
- Date and Time: November 5; 11:45 AM IST / 6:15 AM GMT / 7:15 PM LOCAL
- Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
NZ vs WI, Head-to-Head Record (T20I)
Matches played: 20 | New Zealand won: 10 | West Indies won: 5 | No results: 2 | Tie: 3
Eden Park Pitch Report
Eden Park is known for providing a batting-friendly pitch with consistent bounce and carry, which generally supports high-scoring matches. The outfield allows for quick ball movement, suggesting numerous boundary opportunities. Historically, teams batting in the second innings have seen success at this venue, potentially making the coin toss a critical moment. The forecast indicates clear weather with mild temperatures, ideal for a competitive cricket match.
Squads
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zakary Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Tim Seifert, Nathan Smith, Ish Sodhi.
West Indies: Shai Hope (c), Alick Athanaze, Ackeem Auguste, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Amir Jangoo, Brandon King, Khary Pierre, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd, Shamar Springer
NZ vs WI, 1st T20I: Today’s Match Prediction
Case 1:
- New Zealand is fortunate enough to win the coin toss and chooses to bat first
- New Zealand powerplay score is expected to be: 50-60
- New Zealand’s projected total score: 210-220
Case 2:
- West Indies is fortunate enough to win the coin toss and chooses to bat first
- West Indies powerplay score is expected to be: 40-55
- West Indies’s projected total score: 190-200
Match result: The team that wins the coin toss is most likely to emerge victorious in the game.
