With focus firmly on ODI World Cup, India begin NZ series with one-off T20

The one off T20 is scheduled ahead of the five ODIs starting February 12. Though the team will be looking to win, it will also be approaching the 20-over game to get used to the conditions with the bigger goal for World Cup in mind. To reduce the COVID-19 threat, all games have been moved to the scenic Queenstown.

The Indian squad arrived here after completing a 10-day quarantine in Christchurch. ODI skipper Mithali Raj, who won't be playing the T20, said on Tuesday all the six games will be used to figure out their core players who will feature in the ICC event in March-April. "It is a different format.

The team will be looking forward to winning the game. Having said that, this T20 will also give a fair idea about the wickets, how the players are coping with an open ground," Raj said in a virtual media interaction referring to the windy conditions. T20 skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who ended her lean run with the bat with a successful Women's Big Bash League, will look to lead from the front on Wednesday.

Though workload management has gained significance in COVID times, Mithali made it clear that it will be a secondary issue for them in the six games as it is important for fast bowlers to get used to the conditions. "It will take them at least two or three games to get used to the conditions," she said. "We are here to use this series as preparation for the World Cup because it is the best way we get to know about the wickets and composition we will have next month.

We want to put in the our best standard of cricket so the team derives a lot of confidence when get into the World Cup. "We play to win but I look forward to giving some game time to the core players. It is important they find their rhythm before the World