New Zealand will be playing host to India for a 5-match T2OI series in their backyard with the first game being played at the Eden Park in Auckland on Friday. The Kiwis would repose confidence from their T2OI record against India which by any means looks pretty impressive.

In the 11 T2OI encounter played between the two nations, the Black Caps hold the definitive edge winning 8 of those games and losing just three. For the record, New Zealand who have never lost a T2OI series against India at home would look to continue their dominance over their Asian rivals in the shortest format. The Williamson-led side boasts of an impressive track record on their home soil against the Indians winning four out of the five matches.

Injuries to a couple of their experienced campaigners means the Black Caps would need their youngsters to step up their game against a fast improving Indian T2O outfit which beat both Bangladesh and West Indies and Sri Lanka in their last two T2OI series. Kane Williamson returns to lead the sides after missing out in his team's 2-3 upset loss to England at home.

So here is a look at how the New Zealand team stacks up against the Indians in the upcoming T2OI series

BATTING

OPENERS: MARTIN GUPTILL AND COLIN MUNRO

The Kiwis have one of the most lethal opening pairs in T2OIs, that can flay the best of bowling attacks on their day and the Indians would we wary of the hard hitting Colin Munro and belligerent Martin Guptill, both of whom have impressive records against India. Besides the experienced opening duo, they also have Tom Bruce in their ranks who can provide the opening salvo up the order.

MIDDLE ORDER: KANE WILLIAMSON, ROSS TAYLOR, TIM SEIFERT, COLIN GRANDHOMME

The fulcrum of the middle order will lie on the shoulders of their experienced and ever consistent skipper Kane Williamson and the veteran Ross Taylor who have plenty of experience and skill to anchor the innings in the middle. Tim Seifert, who would be donning the wicket-keeping gloves is a handy customer with the willow in the lower middle order.

The Kiwis do bat deep with a galaxy of all-rounders in their squad who can provide the late flourish at the end. The likes of Colin Grandhomme and Mitchell Santner have the ability to produce those quick-fire cameos to change the complexion of matches in a blink of an eye.

BOWLING ATTACK

SEAM BOWLERS: TIM SOUTHEE, HAMISH BENNETT, DARYL MITCHELL

The Black Caps pace attack has certainly been weakened by injuries to their front-line seamers Trent Boult, Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson . In the absence of their seasoned pacers, the experienced and dependable Tim Southee will spearhead their fast bowling attack which also has Blair Tickner, Hamish Bennett and Scott Kuggeleijn to make the most of the seaming conditions on offer.

Hamish Bennett makes a comeback into the national team after a gap of almost 4 years. The seam attack has depth with medium pacers in Colin Grandhomme and Daryl Mitchell, who can be very handy on seam friendly decks. In a seam heavy attack, the spin duties will be shared by tweakers Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner who have the art of choking the opposition with their tight lines.

With both the teams aiming to get their combination right for the ICC World T2O in Australia, the Kiwis think tank would take the series as a build up to the marquee event and hope to maintain their unbeaten record intact against their much fancied Indian opponents.