Having beaten New Zealand 4-1 in the ODI series, India are looking to clinch the three-match T20I series against the Black Caps as well in order to boost their preparations for the forthcoming World Cup.

Following the New Zealand tour, India will be hosting Australia for two T20Is and five ODIs starting February 24.

“Of course, we would be looking to win this T20I series and carry the momentum back home for the series versus Australia. So, we are certainly looking to finish the tour on a high, while it’s also important to carry on the winning momentum,” opener Shikhar Dhawan said on the eve of the opening T20I in Wellington.

Talking about his mindset and technique for the shortest format of the game, Dhawan said he has shots that can help him score quickly and keep his strike rate high.

“The format demands aggressive batting, and it depends on the wicket as well, especially in terms of the bounce and how much the ball is swinging.

“I’ve got a lot of shots that help me find the gaps and that goes in my favour. Automatically, my strike rate goes up.

“Last year too, my T20 season went well. So, I go in with the same mindset and approach… Going to go with the same technique as well,” the left-hander said.

Ahead of the Wednesday’s game, Dhawan was seen practising with a tennis ball to counter the bounce and swing that troubled the Indian top order in the fourth and final ODIs. Dhawan explained how tennis ball drills help him.

“I do tennis ball drills mostly for bouncers, for my muscle memory as well... I feel that if keep hitting the same shot, I get better at it...

“When facing bowlers or taking throwdowns, it’s not possible to play the ball at one place all the time, so therefore, tennis ball practice comes in handy.

“But after you go back to facing the leather ball, it feels someone is throwing stones at you. Today while we were doing the tennis ball drill, we were also doing it to counter the swing,” he elaborated.

Dhawan said that Rishabh Pant has become an asset for the team due to his ability to change the course of a game in no time.