INDORE, India — The cricketing spotlight falls on Holkar Stadium as India and New Zealand prepare for the decisive third and final One-Day International (ODI) on Sunday. Indian captain Shubman Gill secured a tactical advantage at the coin toss, electing to field first against the visiting Black Caps.
This match serves as the series decider after both teams claimed victories in the preceding contests. India seized an initial lead with a hard-fought four-wicket win in Vadodara, only to see New Zealand demonstrate a formidable response with a commanding seven-wicket triumph in Rajkot, effectively leveling the three-match series.
Team India introduces one strategic alteration to its playing XI, with left-arm pace bowler Arshdeep Singh replacing Prasidh Krishna. Conversely, New Zealand maintains confidence in its previous lineup, opting for an unchanged squad.
Historically, India has dominated bilateral ODI series on home soil, and the Black Caps are confronting a significant challenge. The visitors aim to overturn a daunting record, having previously lost all seven of their ODI series encounters in India.
Pitch conditions at Holkar Stadium are anticipated to heavily favor batsmen, setting the stage for a potentially high-scoring affair. Meteorological factors, including evening dew, coupled with the ground’s relatively short boundaries, are expected to provide a distinct advantage to the team chasing the target.
In related squad developments, the national selection committee has announced changes to India’s Twenty20 roster for the upcoming five-match series against New Zealand, commencing January 21 in Nagpur. Middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer and wrist spinner Ravi Bishnoi have been drafted into the squad, replacing the injured Tilak Verma and Washington Sundar, respectively.
Lineups:
India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj
New Zealand: Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Hay, Michael Bracewell (captain), Zakary Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Kristian Clarke, Jayden Lennox