After comfortably winning the second ODI in Mount Maunganui, India will be looking to take a 3-0 lead in the third one day international against New Zealand when the two teams again clash at the Bay Oval on Monday.
Indian skipper Virat Kohli will be playing his last match of the tour as the selectors have opted to rest him from the remainder of the ODIs and the T20I series. He will be hoping to clinch the series and sign off on a high.
While he came into this series on a iffy run, Shikhar Dhawan has managed fine half centuries in both ODI’s so far. Vice captain Rohit Sharma failed in Napier but scored a wonderful 87 at the Bay Oval on Saturday, falling just 13 short of what would’ve been his first century against the Black Caps in New Zealand.
Kohli has looked really solid in both the games, but fell in the 40’s in both occasions.
Ambati Rayudu did better on Saturday, although fans were still criticising him for not being able to kick on and get India to the 350 score that they looked very likely to get at one stage.
Veteran MS Dhoni continued his purple patch with the bat by scoring a brilliant cameo of 48 as Kedar Jadhav and he provided some vital late impetus to the innings, taking it past the 300 mark.
After having his suspension temporarily revoked, Hardik Pandya has joined the squad and is likely to walk into the playing XI at the expense of Vijay Shankar.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami have been in good bowling rhythm by getting crucial breakthroughs at important junctures.
New Zealand on the other hand, would be hoping for a better batting display from their top order. The likes of Martin Guptill and Colin Munro have not been able to provide a solid foundation for the likes of Kane Williamson,
Ross Taylor and Latham to flourish.
Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal have tormented the Black Caps in the middle stages and have prevented them from getting any kind of momentum. Doug Bracewell was the only batsman to offer some resistance with the bat at the Bay Oval, and his partnership with Lockie Ferguson was the only 50 plus one that New Zealand have managed so far across both ODI’s.
Among the two spinners, Kuldeep has looked the most threatening as he bagged his second four-wicket haul in the first two one dayers.
Left arm spinner Mitchell Santner who was dropped for the last game is likely to make a come back in place of Colin de Grandhomme, who had a horror outing on Saturday.
India’s Likely XI
Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan,Virat Kohli (capt), Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (wk), Vijay Shankar/ Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami and Yuzvendra Chahal
New Zealand Likely XI
Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson (capt), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wk), Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Doug Bracewell, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Feguson and Trent Boult