TEAMS AND STAR PLAYERS

Team: India

Group opponents: Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, Bangladesh.

World T20 record: 2007-Champions, ‘09-2nd Round, ‘10-2nd Round, ‘12-2nd Round, ‘14-Finalists

Strength: Form, confidence and home advantage

Weakness: Pace bowling

Players to watch:

Virat Kohli — The dashing stroke-maker has the best average (72 from 11 innings) of any batsman who has played eight or more World T20 innings. He was the leading scorer in the 2014 edition, with 319 runs at an average of 106.33. He is in strong form, scoring at a rate of 86.8 in the last 16 T20 internationals.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni: The ever-cool India captain keeps his emotions in check regardless of whether his team is struggling or controlling a game. He can quickly switch game plans according to the match situations and usually reacts with bowling or batting changes in time to counter the plans of an opposition. He can bat anywhere in the order.

Team: New Zealand

World Twenty20 record: ‘07-4th Place, ‘09-2nd Round, ‘10-2nd Round, ‘12-2nd Round, ‘14-2nd Round

Strength: Power-hitting

Weakness: Batting against spinners

Players to watch:

Martin Guptill — Famous for his short-arm pull shot, the New Zealand opener scored four half centuries in his last six T20 internationals against South Africa, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Kane Williamson: The only New Zealand batsmen who is an automatic selection in all three formats of the game as he switches batting gears with utmost ease. The consistent Williamson is a perfect foil to shield the inability of the lower order against spin on turning wickets. He is fast approaching the 1,000-run mark in T20s after scoring 844 runs in 28 T20s.