NZ vs WI Dream11 Prediction – 1st T20I, West Indies Tour of New Zealand 2025
The opening match of the five-game T20I series between the New Zealand national cricket team (NZ) and the West Indies cricket team (WI) will be played on 5 November 2025 at Eden Park in Auckland. NZ will seek to start the series strongly at home, while West Indies will aim to unsettle the hosts with aggressive intent. The venue is known for good batting conditions early on, but disciplined bowling and fielding can still make the difference.
Match Details
- Date: Wednesday, 5 November 2025
- Venue: Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand
- Time: Approx. early evening local (IST ~ 11:45 AM)
- Format: Twenty20 International (T20I) — Match 1 of the series
Team Previews
New Zealand (NZ)
New Zealand have named a strong T20 squad with a mix of experience and youth, and are looking to fine-tune their combinations ahead of major tournaments. Key players around the batting core and spin department will look to exploit home comforts. NZ’s strengths lie in their spin attack and adaptable batting line-up.
West Indies (WI)
West Indies come into this tour with a dangerous batting line-up and plenty of power hitters. Their challenge will be to adjust quickly to conditions in New Zealand and to strike early with the ball. If they can apply themselves in the power-play and hold their nerve in the middle overs, they stand a good chance.
Probable XIs (Tentative)
New Zealand (NZ) – Probable XI
- Devon Conway
- Tim Seifert (wk)
- Mark Chapman
- Rachin Ravindra
- Daryl Mitchell
- Michael Bracewell
- Mitchell Santner (c)
- Kyle Jamieson
- Ish Sodhi
- Jacob Duffy
- Nathan Smith
(Note: XIs are based on latest squad announcements and may change slightly at toss.)
West Indies (WI) – Probable XI
- Shai Hope (c & wk)
- Brandon King
- Sherfane Rutherford
- Alick Athanaze
- Roston Chase
- Romario Shepherd
- Akeal Hosein
- Jason Holder
- Jayden Seales
- Ackeem Auguste
- Khary Pierre
Top Fantasy Picks
- Mitchell Santner (NZ): Captain and key spinner; contributes with bat and ball—excellent fantasy pick.
- Kyle Jamieson (NZ): Big-hitting fast bowler returning to squad; stealth value for wickets.
- Brandon King (WI): Explosive top-order batter; high fantasy upside if he gets in early.
- Sherfane Rutherford (WI): Middle-order hitter with big-shot potential; good differential.
- Ish Sodhi (NZ): Experienced spinner in home conditions; value pick for middle overs.
- Daryl Mitchell (NZ): Reliable middle-order bat; safe fantasy foundation.
- Romario Shepherd (WI): All-round option from WI; potential for both bat and ball returns.
- Mark Chapman (NZ): Good value pick as an aggressive batter top-5; can change game quickly.
Captain & Vice-Captain Choices
- Captain (2× points): Mitchell Santner or Brandon King
- Vice-Captain (1.5× points): Sherfane Rutherford or Kyle Jamieson
Match Prediction
Given the home conditions and recent squad stability, New Zealand hold a slight edge in this opening T20I. If they bat first and set a competitive total, they may apply scoreboard pressure on West Indies. However, West Indies’ power-hitting means they cannot be written off.
Prediction: New Zealand to win by 20–25 runs.
Fantasy Tips
- Wait for the toss and final XI before locking your team—playing conditions and roles matter.
- For a chasing team (if WI chase), favour batters; if NZ bats first, include bowlers who may exploit conditions.
- Prioritise at least two top-order batters and two bowlers/all-rounders to balance your team.
- Spread risk: include 6 players from New Zealand (slightly favoured side) and 5 from West Indies to hedge.
- Choose one wicket-keeper batter with good recent form for extra value.
Conclusion
The 1st T20I of the West Indies tour of New Zealand promises an exciting start to the series. Fantasy players should focus on big-impact picks like Mitchell Santner, Brandon King, Kyle Jamieson and Sherfane Rutherford. With New Zealand holding a minor advantage, backing them with well-balanced picks is a sensible strategy—but keep an eye on the dangerous West Indies batting threat.
