India Chooses to Bowl After Winning Toss in Crucial Third ODI vs New Zealand
On Sunday, in a critical third one-day international (ODI) match, India chose to bowl after winning the toss against New Zealand. This match marks the final installment of the three-match series, currently tied at one win apiece.
Series Overview
India initially took the lead by winning the first ODI in Vadodara. They secured victory by four wickets. However, New Zealand responded strongly, leveling the series with a commanding seven-wicket win in Rajkot.
Team Changes and Conditions
In this match, India made one significant change. Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh replaced Prasidh Krishna in the lineup. New Zealand, on the other hand, maintained an unchanged squad.
New Zealand aims to achieve their first ODI bilateral series victory on Indian soil. Historically, the Black Caps have lost all seven previous ODI encounters in India.
Pitch and Conditions
The setting for this match is the Holkar Stadium in Indore. The pitch is expected to be conducive for batting, suggesting a high-scoring game. Factors such as evening dew and short boundaries could benefit the team chasing the target.
Upcoming Matches
Looking ahead, notable additions have been made to India’s Twenty20 squad. Batter Shreyas Iyer and wrist spinner Ravi Bishnoi were included for the upcoming five-match series. They replace injured players Tilak Verma and Washington Sundar, respectively. This series is set to begin on January 21 in Nagpur.
Lineup for the Third ODI
| India | New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma | Devon Conway |
| Shubman Gill (captain) | Henry Nicholls |
| Virat Kohli | Will Young |
| Shreyas Iyer | Daryl Mitchell |
| KL Rahul | Glenn Phillips |
| Ravindra Jadeja | Mitchell Hay |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | Michael Bracewell (captain) |
| Harshit Rana | Zakary Foulkes |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Kyle Jamieson |
| Arshdeep Singh | Kristian Clarke |
| Mohammed Siraj | Jayden Lennox |
This eagerly anticipated match draws attention not only for its competitive spirit but also for India’s quest to maintain superiority over New Zealand on home soil.
