Hamilton: The third match of the five-match ODI series between India and New Zealand will be played at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Tuesday. The Indian team, led by Shubman Gill, will be looking to win this match and seal the series. India currently leads the series 2-0 and has a chance to win the series with two matches remaining.
The Indian team is brimming with confidence after winning both rain-affected matches in Auckland and Wellington. Meanwhile, the New Zealand team, led by Mitchell Santner, is facing the threat of another series defeat. The team also suffered a 2-3 defeat against India in the T20 series.
New Zealand’s batting struggles against Indian bowlers
The Indian bowling attack has been the most impressive in this series so far. New Zealand’s batsmen have struggled to score runs against the fast bowlers. The hosts were bowled out for 185 in the first ODI, while they could only manage 134 in the second match played in Wellington.
Gurnoor Brar took 4 wickets for 30 runs in the second ODI, delivering a career-best performance. Anshul Kamboj and Axar Patel also made significant contributions. New Zealand’s batting unit will have to address its weaknesses against the Indian bowlers.
Daryl Mitchell performed well for the hosts in the second ODI, scoring 55 runs, while Mitchell Santner contributed 31 runs. However, New Zealand’s top order has failed to consistently provide good starts, putting pressure on the middle order.
To stay in the series, batsmen like Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Tom Latham, and Glenn Phillips will have to shoulder the responsibility.
Injuries plaguing New Zealand, Ferguson and Tickner out
New Zealand’s problems ahead of the third ODI have been compounded by injuries. Fast bowler Lockie Ferguson has been ruled out of the final two ODIs due to a right calf injury.
Blair Tickner was hit on the helmet during the match in Wellington. He has been ruled out of the next two matches under the mandatory seven-day rest protocol.
Christian Clarke has been included in the squad as cover for these players. New Zealand announced separate squads for the third and fourth ODIs on Monday. The squad for the fifth and final match will be announced later.
India will look to improve its batting
The Indian team has performed brilliantly in bowling, but its batting performance needs to improve further. Virat Kohli laid the foundation for victory by scoring 74 runs in the first ODI. However, the Indian top order failed to perform as expected in the second match.
In the rain-affected second ODI, India’s score was at one point 113 for 7. KL Rahul then steadied the team with an unbeaten 26. His innings put India four runs ahead on Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) and won the match.
At Seddon Park, India will have a chance to seal the series. However, New Zealand, playing at home, will also be looking to make a comeback. A win for India would secure the series, while New Zealand will need to win this match at all costs to keep their hopes alive.
Key Match Information
– Match: India vs. New Zealand, 3rd ODI
– Date: Tuesday, November 10
– Time: 7:30 AM (IST)
– Venue: Seddon Park, Hamilton
– TV Broadcast: Sony Sports Network
– Live Streaming: Sony LIV app and website
Probable Squads for Both Teams
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (captain), Michael Bracewell, Christian Clarke, Jacob Duffy, Matt Fisher, Kyle Jamieson, Nick Kelly, Tom Latham (wicketkeeper), Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert, Nathan Smith, and Will Young.
India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Anshul Kamboj, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnur Brar, Naman Dhir, Aaqib Nabi, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan.