India, Jan. 27 -- With two matches to go and the series already in the bag, India have an opportunity to tighten loose ends, experiment with combinations and even employ whacky strategies if they want to.

The hosts and reigning champions could not have been in a happier space ahead of a World Cup as they aim to defend the crown for only the second time in the T20 tournament's 18-year odyssey.

The rest of the New Zealand series will be played down South in Visakhapatnam and Thiruvananthapuram, where a scarcity of international matches will ensure packed stands.

As the 3-0 scoreline suggests, things have fallen in place as a collective for the hosts. Tilak Varma's absence has been made up by Ishan Kishan's counterpunching knocks. Axar Pa...