India Invites New Zealand to Bat First in ODI Series Finale
In the final match of the ODI series, India faced New Zealand at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. India captain Shubman Gill won the toss and opted to bowl first. This strategic decision was influenced by the conditions, as Gill believed the evening dew would not significantly affect play.
India’s ODI Strategy
India’s choice to field came despite their previous successes in Indore while batting first, having scored 385 and 399 in earlier matches at this venue. Only Trent Bridge and Wankhede Stadium have higher recorded totals for ODIs exceeding 380 runs than the Holkar Stadium.
Team Changes and Expectations
The Indian team made a notable change, bringing in left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh for his debut in the series, replacing Prasidh Krishna. Arshdeep was expected to share the new ball with Mohammed Siraj. Harshit Rana, known for his aggressive bowling, was likely adjusted to a middle-overs role, enhancing the bowling attack’s depth.
New Zealand’s Consistency
New Zealand retained their winning squad from the second ODI held in Rajkot, where they successfully leveled the series by defeating India by seven wickets. Their consistent lineup aimed to capitalize on their momentum to secure a series victory.
Match Lineups
| India | New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Shubman Gill (capt) | Devon Conway |
| Rohit Sharma | Henry Nicholls |
| Virat Kohli | Will Young |
| Shreyas Iyer | Daryl Mitchell |
| KL Rahul (wk) | Mitchell Hay (wk) |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | Glenn Phillips |
| Ravindra Jadeja | Michael Bracewell (capt) |
| Harshit Rana | Kristian Clarke |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Kyle Jamieson |
| Arshdeep Singh | Zak Foulkes |
| Mohammed Siraj | Jayden Lennox |
This series finale held high stakes, showcasing both teams’ talents and strategies under pressure, setting the stage for an exhilarating clash in ODI cricket.
