The action now shifts to the North East of India as India host New Zealand at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati. If recent performances are any indication, the Men in Blue are in ominous form, having won their last four matches consecutively. New Zealand showed some resistance in the previous game by posting 208, but India chased the target comfortably, underlining the gap in current form.
For fantasy cricket enthusiasts, Guwahati is usually a run-fest venue. With flat conditions and dew coming into play, this match sets up perfectly for high-scoring fantasy contests. Let’s dive into the data to help you build a winning combination.
Weather & Pitch Report
Venue: Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
Weather Forecast
The evening in Guwahati on January 25 is expected to be cool and pleasant, with temperatures ranging between 16°C and 18°C. Humidity will remain high at around 75–80%, which strongly indicates that dew will play a major role in the second innings, making bowling difficult later in the game.
Pitch Behavior
- Batting Paradise: The average score in the last four matches at this venue is a massive 192 runs. The ball comes nicely onto the bat, encouraging stroke play.
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Bowler Support: Pacers have taken 32 wickets, compared to 26 by spinners in recent games. However, once dew sets in, gripping the ball becomes challenging for both pace and spin.
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Strategy: The team winning the toss is likely to bowl first to take advantage of the dew later. For fantasy teams, prioritizing top-order batters is the smartest approach.
Team Form & Head-to-Head
- India: WWWWL (Dominant form)
- New Zealand: LLWAW (Inconsistent)
- Head-to-Head: India have won 8 of the last 10 encounters
Probable Playing XIs
India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy / Arshdeep Singh
New Zealand: Devon Conway (wk), Tim Seifert, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Jacob Duffy, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson
Key Players to Watch
🇮🇳 Indian Powerhouses
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Suryakumar Yadav: Simply unstoppable. Fresh off an 82-run knock, he is averaging 114 fantasy points in the series and is the safest Captaincy pick across contests.
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Abhishek Sharma: Averaging 101 fantasy points, he attacks from the very first ball. His explosive 84-run innings in the previous match highlights his high-reward potential.
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Shivam Dube: Contributing in both departments, Dube averages 102 points. He recently picked up 2 wickets and added quick runs with the bat.
🇳🇿 Kiwi Fighters
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Glenn Phillips: The backbone of New Zealand’s batting lineup. Averaging 95.5 points, he has consistently challenged the Indian bowlers.
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Mitchell Santner: A smart all-round option. He scored 47 runs in the last match and usually chips in with wickets or economical overs, averaging 75.5 points.
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Jacob Duffy: A strong differential bowling pick. He has been among the wickets, including a 2-wicket haul recently.
Captaincy & Vice-Captaincy Picks
✅ Safe Options (Small Leagues)
- Suryakumar Yadav – High ownership, guaranteed returns
- Abhishek Sharma – Explosive form makes him a reliable VC
🚀 Differential Options (Mega Leagues)
- Hardik Pandya – Bowls in powerplay and death, plus middle-order batting
- Glenn Phillips – If NZ bats first, he often anchors and scores big
Fantasy Strategy for Guwahati
- Ignore Over-Balancing: On a 190+ scoring track, focus on aggressive batters rather than anchors.
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Death Bowlers Are Gold: Wickets often fall in the final overs as batters go hard. Bowlers like Arshdeep Singh (if selected) or Hardik Pandya can pick up cheap wickets.
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The Dew Factor: If India chase, their top three batters can hunt down any total. Load your fantasy team heavily with batters from the chasing side.