After 2 games with different performances and results, India head to the Green Park in Kanpur for the final ODI of the 3 match series, that promises to be as exciting as the first 2.
New Zealand were at their best in Mumbai but turned into a pale shadow of themselves just a few miles away in Pune 3 days later as the Indian bowlers returned to their usual miserly best. Bhuvneshwar Kumar bagged the man of the match for his 3-45 in his full quota in 10 overs while other bowlers also cashed in.
Indian batsmen then made light work of the required total to square the series with Dinesh Karthik scoring a 50 on his comeback ODI.
India swept aside the Blackcaps last year in the final test of the 3 match series, with Ravichandran Ashwin running riot.
The last time Kanpur played host to an ODI it saw its two highest ODI totals. South Africa racked up 303, and Kagiso Rabada defied MS Dhoni and Stuart Binny at the death to limit India to 298 for 7, after a brilliant 150 from Rohit Sharma.
Kanpur weather is expected to remain cricket friendly during the match. Pitch is also likely to be as a general Indian wicket, with some swing initially and slow turn in the middle overs.
Players to watch out for
New Zealand: Trent Boult and Tom Latham
Both of these players were instrumental in Kiwis win in the first ODI, with Boult taking early wickets to dent India’s progress, and Tom Latham taking Indian spinners to the cleaners with almost the sweep shot alone. If India can counter these 2 players, it will be hard for New Zealand to pose a threat.
India: Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shikhar Dhawan
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, like Boult, troubled New Zealand early in Pune with some early wickets and putting India on top, he was also the Man of the match. Shikhar Dhawan put any doubts aside with a quickfire 50 but is the category of batsmen who are either feast or famine. But once he gets going, he will be a very dangerous player to stop.
Some eye-catching stats
- New Zealand have played three ODI deciders in India in the years 1995, 1999, and 2016 and have lost them all. They would really want to turn this around.
- Virat Kohli needs 83 runs to become the sixth Indian cricketer to score 9000 runs in ODIs.
- The last time India lost an ODI series at home was against South Africa in 2015, where the bowlers got battered for 438 in Mumbai.
Form guide
(last five completed games, most recent first)
India: WLWLW
New Zealand: LWLLN
Likely teams
Same squad for both sides.
Prediction
India to bat first, and defend a target of 300+
