India Faces New Zealand in Crucial 3rd ODI Showdown 2026
India will face New Zealand in a decisive third ODI match on November 17, 2026, in Indore. This encounter is significant as New Zealand seeks their first ODI series win in India. Historically, New Zealand has visited India for ODI matches on 16 occasions, including four World Cups and a Champions Trophy, but they have never secured a series victory.
New Zealand’s Challenging Journey
Throughout their ODI history in India, New Zealand has struggled to find success. They have only pushed for a decider three times:
- Bowled out for 126 in 1995
- Collapsed for 79 in 2016
- Failed to chase down 90 runs in 2017 despite having seven wickets in hand
With a young squad, featuring eight first-time visitors to India, New Zealand is looking to change their fortunes after winning their first Test series against India by a 3-0 margin last season.
India’s Form and Strengths
India, the defending champions of the ICC Champions Trophy and Asia Cup, have a potent ODI lineup. They have been formidable at home, not losing a home ODI after winning the toss in over three years. However, the transition from afternoon to night can pose challenges for any visiting team.
Key Players to Watch
The spotlight will be on Kuldeep Yadav and Daryl Mitchell. In the previous match, Mitchell successfully targeted Kuldeep, turning the match in New Zealand’s favor. Kuldeep will need to adapt and improve to be more effective in this crucial game.
Team News and Selection
For the upcoming match, India has called up Ayush Badoni to replace the injured Washington Sundar. Nitish Kumar Reddy played in the last match but could be replaced by Badoni. Arshdeep Singh has also shown promise but has yet to feature in this series.
Probable Indian lineup:
- Shubman Gill (c)
- Rohit Sharma
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- KL Rahul (wk)
- Nitish Kumar Reddy/Ayush Badoni
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Harshit Rana
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Prasidh Krishna/Arshdeep Singh
- Mohammed Siraj
New Zealand’s Probable Team
New Zealand will also look to adjust their strategy, considering the small dimensions of the Indore ground. Probable lineup:
- Devon Conway
- Henry Nicholls
- Will Young
- Daryl Mitchell
- Mitchell Hay (wk)
- Glenn Phillips
- Michael Bracewell (c)
- Kristian Clarke
- Kyle Jamieson
- Zak Foulkes
- Adithya Ashok/Jayden Lennox
Pitch and Weather Conditions
The match will be held at a ground known for high-scoring games. Temperatures are expected to range from the late 20s to early 10s, creating ideal cricketing conditions. Historically, India has posted scores of 398 and 399 here in two recent ODIs.
Statistics to Consider
Among the stats, Ravindra Jadeja has struggled to score 50 or more runs in home matches, with his last notable score occurring over a decade ago. Shubman Gill is on the verge of a significant milestone, needing just 70 runs in six innings to become the second-fastest player to reach 3,000 ODI runs.
This third ODI promises to be a thrilling contest, as India looks to maintain their dominance while New Zealand aims for a historic victory. The match is set to commence at 1:30 PM IST in Indore.
