Team India’s confidence was jolted by some incisive swing bowling in challenging conditions in Hamilton but the jolted visitors will gain confidence from Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s return as they aim to finish the five-match One-day International (ODI) series against New Zealand with a win. India were bowled out for 92, their lowest total in New Zealand on Thursday.
India’s most experienced ODI player was out with hamstring injury during last two matches and his return couldn’t have been timed better after their inexplicable collapse for 92 in Hamilton.
Dhoni’s calmness in anchoring the innings will be priceless and young Shubman Gill might make the way in the playing XI as the World Cup preparations hit full swing.
It will be interesting if Mohammed Shami comes back for the final game with Bhuvneshwar Kumar getting the rest.
The team management might also want to test Mohammed Siraj as Khaleel Ahmed wasn’t very impressive in the last game.
Teams (from):
India: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Vijay Shankar, Shubman Gill, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Siraj, Khaleel Ahmed, Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya.
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (c), Todd Astle, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (wk), Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, and Ross Taylor.
