India eye series clinch in Guwahati

Online Staff/GUWAHATI, Jan 24: International cricket returns to Guwahati after a gap of nearly two years as India and New Zealand prepare to lock horns in the third match of the five-game T20I series at the ACA Stadium, Barsapara, on Sunday evening. With a 2–0 lead, India will be keen to seal the series at home. The high-voltage encounter is scheduled to get underway at 7 pm. Both teams arrived in the city on Saturday via chartered flights and headed straight to their hotels. Opting for rest over preparation, neither side took part in net sessions ahead of the match.
Guwahati will host its fifth men’s T20 International, having earlier staged matches against teams like Australia, Sri Lanka, and South Africa. India’s record at the venue has been modest so far, with just one victory—against South Africa in 2022—while they lost both the encounters against Australia held in 2017 and 2023. On the other hand the match against Sri Lanka in 2020 was washed out due to rain.
This time, however, conditions look far more promising. Clear skies are forecast, and the temperature during match hours is expected to remain pleasant at around 19°C, offering ideal conditions for cricket.
Dew could emerge as a key factor as the night progresses, particularly affecting the bowlers in the second innings. As a result, captains winning the toss are likely to prefer bowling first to take advantage of the conditions.
The match also marks a historic moment for the visitors, as it will be the first time the New Zealand men’s team plays a T20I in Guwahati. The Black Caps have previously featured in One-Day Internationals at the city’s Nehru Stadium.
On the logistical front, security arrangements have been tightened around the venue. Traffic restrictions will be enforced on roads surrounding the stadium to ensure smooth movement of spectators.