ICC World T20: New Zealand’s strengths, weaknesses and players to watch out for

Martin Guptill was the top scorer of the ICC World Cup 2015 in Australia. (Source:PTI)

The sixth edition of the World Twenty20 tournament will be hosted by India and feature 10 teams in the main group stage, including qualifiers Afghanistan and Bangladesh. (Full Coverage|| Fixtures||Photos)

The five previous tournaments have been won by five different countries, with no team crowned champion on home soil.

Here’s a look at teams in the two groups. There are two big traditional derbies in Group 2, which features India and Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand.

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.