New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson is set to miss the three-match T20I series against India. He led the team to the final of the T20 World Cup which concluded on November 14. The Kiwis lost to Australia by eight wickets in the final but the game was also remembered for Williamson’s majestic batting performance where he made 85 runs off 48 deliveries with 10 fours and three sixes.

The international schedule is such nowadays that New Zealand have reached India and will be playing the first T20I of the three-match series on November 17, only three days after the World Cup final. They are also set to face India in two Tests which are also the part of the World Test Championship. Kane Williamson and his men will be starting their campaign of the new WTC cycle after winning the inaugural edition beating India in the final.

Moreover, Kane Williamson has been managing his elbow injury for a long time now. The injury flared up during the World Cup as well.; But he kept playing and could be looking to rest it up a little bit during the T20I series as well now. Pace bowler Tim Southee will be leading New Zealand in the T20Is now with 14 players available for visitors to pick up from.

India and New Zealand will be facing each other on November 17 in the first of the three-match T20I series. It is a quick turnaround for New Zealand especially having played the final of the T20 World Cup on November 14. India, on the other hand, were knocked out in the Super 12 stage itself and played their last game against Namibia on November 8.

Nevertheless, with the next T20 World Cup only 11 months away, both teams will be looking to do well in the build up to the next year’s event. Some exciting cricket will definitely be played over the course of three T20Is and India cricketer Harbhajan Singh reckons it will be a close series.

However, he has backed the hosts India to win the series by a margin of 2-1. “2-1. This is what I am predicting agains.