IND vs NZ: Shivam Dube or Rinku Singh! Who should be in India’s XI for first T20I?

The IND vs NZ 1st T20I will take place on January 21 at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur.

Indian Cricket Team are all set to clash with New Zealand Cricket Team in a five-match T20I series. During the campaign, selection calls will be a big headache for the Men-in-Blue as they need to test their best players ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

Rinku Singh has made a comeback to the T20I team for the India vs New Zealand T20I series and the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. He faces stiff competition with Shivam Dube for a spot in the lower middle-order. The latter comes with the additional advantage of his ability to bowl.

However, both of them bring different skill sets to the table and the management will have a tough decision of picking the best between the two in the playing XI. On that note, below we discuss who between Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh will be the best choice in India’s playing XI for IND v NZ 1st T20I.

IND vs NZ: Shivam Dube or Rinku Singh? Who should be in India’s XI for first T20I?

Benefits with Shivam Dube

Shivam Dube provides dual advantage to the side with his ability to bowl and score runs. His presence adds a seamer to the playing XI. He turned out to be a useful bowler in Asia Cup 2025 final last year, when Hardik Pandya was ruled out of the summit clash. Dube can also clear boundaries easily, helping the team to get crucial runs in the middle-overs.

Benefits with Rinku Singh

Rinku Singh is a hard-hitting batter who can provide additional depth to the batting department. His ability to score under pressure and dominate opposition bowlers in the death overs makes him a stand-out batter. Moreover, he can provide wonderful support to Hardik Pandya in the lower-order. His finishing abilities will be quite useful. Also, with the ball, he can chip in with his spin.

Shivam Dube or Rinku Singh! Who should India prefer?

Notably, in all major campaigns last year, India were short of their complete bowling unit. Seamers like Jasprit Bumrah or Hardik Pandya were not available together in crucial series. In the IND vs NZ T20Is, India have their entire core bowling unit. Hence, they would not need the services of Dube in the bowling department.

Pacer Jasprit Bumrah and spinner Varun Chakravarthy will complete their quota of eight overs, and the Men-in-Blue will have enough options in the bowling. In such a scenario, Rinku Singh’s addition to the playing XI will be a better decision.

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