World T20 team preview: Can New Zealand overcome McCullum void?

Building up to any global cricket event, a discussion on the New Zealand cricket team, invariably, revolves around the term dark horses. Always making their presence felt at ICC events, New Zealand have been a team that oppositions never take lightly but somehow they have failed to grab the proverbial brass ring apart from once.
In recent years, a certain Brendon McCullum has forced a change in perception of New Zealand with his ultra aggressive brand of cricket and pro-active leadership skills.That has morphed New Zealand from dark horses to one of the favourites as they gear up for the sixth edition of the ICC World Twenty20 in India. But there's a catch: McCullum has retired and that leaves his replacement Kane Williamson with a massive void to fill - as opener, fielder, leader and inspirational role model.
Super 10 Group: 2 (India, Australia, Pakistan and Group A winner)
Captain: Kane Williamson
Squad: Kane Williamson (capt), Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Grant Elliott, Corey Anderson, Colin Munro, Luke Ronchi (wk), Mitchell Santner, Nathan McCullum, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Mitchell McClenaghan, Adam Milne, Ish Sodhi
Strengths: Despite McCullum's absence, New Zealand have one of the best batting line-ups in the competition. Martin Guptill plays the limited-overs format like a man possessed. Williamson, at the other end, is an antithesis of Guptill but more than capable of inflicting substantial damage on the opposition. Next in line are the hard-hitting Colin Munro, experienced Ross Taylor, plucky Grant Elliot, big-hitting Corey Anderson and the unpredictable Luke Ronchi - all of whom who are well versed with the format. Add to that the smart selection of three spinners (Nathan MCullum, Ish Sodhi, Mitchell Santner) taking into consideration the Indian pitches and you have a very strong team on paper.
Weaknesses: Injury concerns seem to be their only weakness with three key players in Mitchell McClenaghan, Tim Southee and Taylor returning after injury layoffs. The squad comprises inexperienced back-up players with batsman Henry Nicholls yet to make his T20I debut and fast bowler Adam Milne still finding his feet. By leaving out Matt Henry, the selectors might have erred in not picking a bowler who has a knack of picking wickets. It would also be interesting to see how the highly rated Santner fares alongside the experienced Nathan McCullum in the middle overs.
Trump cards: Guptill, in his last seven innings, has scored four fifties apart from two scores of over 40 at a strike-rate in excess of 150 in five of those innings. Williamson scores in just about every game. The success of this Jeckle & Hyde combination at the top will be key for New Zealand. Also, Williamson the skipper will be watched closely as he takes on the mantle from Brendon McCullum. The soft-spoken batsman seems to possess the temperament and leadership skills to help New Zealand to their first ICC title since 2000.
X-factor: Munro is probably someone who can come close to what Brendon McCullum was for New Zealand, at least in T20Is. With regards to talent and skill, Munro might have a long way to go in comparison to Baz, but he surely has that ultra aggressive batting style. In January this year he clobbered the second fast fifty in T20Is, off only 14 balls against Sri Lanka, and followed it up with another fifty. During the warm-up game against Sri Lanka on Thursday, Munro reminded how dangerous a proposition he could be by pummelling a 21-ball fifty.

T20I record
Overall: P 88 W 42 L 39 T 5 NR 2
World T20: P 25 W 11 L 12 T 2 NR 0
In 2016: P 5 W 4 L 1 T 0 NR 0
Head-to-head World T20 record against opponents:
India: P 1 W 1 L 0 T 0 NR 0 (2007)
Pakistan: P 4 W 1 L 3 T 0 NR 0 (2007, 2009, 2010, 2012)
Australia: NOT PLAYED
Prediction: Having won all but one T20I this year, New Zealand have momentum on their side and going by their batting form during their first World T20 warm-up fixture, where they racked up 226 against Sri Lanka, there is no doubt that they will give the big teams a run for their money in their group and potentially go the distance in the tournament.