After the ICC World Cup 2019, India has first time lost the bilateral series. The Kiwis beat Team India with 2-0 in the first two games of the three-match ODI series. Although India has lost the series, the Men in Blue will head to play the last ODI at Bay Oval on Tuesday (12 February).
Meanwhile, the Black Caps will be delighted with their win in the ODI series after facing a humiliating defeat in the five-match T20I series. They will surely head to clean sweep India in the three-match ODI series.
Well, post-game, Virat Kohli mentioned that there might be changes in the third ODI game. So, in the last game, the Indian captain will surely experiment and provide chances to the players who’re warming the benches.
1.Prithvi Shaw:
Like the first ODI, the aggressive player Prithvi Shaw could not extend his innings. He scored 24 runs off 19 that included six boundaries. The youngster needs to score big runs in the third ODI as it might be the last opportunity for him. Because Rohit Sharma might return in the 50-over format for the next series.
2. Mayank Agarwal:
Like Shaw, he has also failed to perform the best in the game as he lost the wicket after scoring just three runs.
The third game will be crucial for him to perform. Because after playing the ODI series, he will head to play the Test series. Thus, low performance in ODI might discourage him in the longest format.
3. Virat Kohli:
This series has been not so good for the captain. In both ODIs, he has lost his wicket at the crucial stages when the team needed him the most. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan being absent in the series mean Kohli needs to perform better. However, he will surely try to score big in the last game.
4. Shreyas Iyer:
There is no doubt to say that Shreyas Iyer is an apt choice for the fourth spot in the team. In the second game, the youngster scored a seventh half-century in the 50-over format. Although he could not stand long for the team.
5. KL Rahul:
KL Rahul failed to deliver in the second game following top-order’s failure. The in-form batsman, who has shown he can score while batting at different positions, failed miserably to take charge of the game as the middle-order batsman. However, he is a reliable batsman and can stage a comeback in the final ODI.
6. Manish Pandey:
Manish Pandey was benched for the last two games. So, he is likely to get the place in the playing XI in the place of Kedar Jadhav.
Pandey last played the ODI against Australia where he could not get many balls to play.
7. Shardul Thakur:
Shardul Thakur was an economical bowler for India in the second ODI. The pacer picked two wickets at the economy rate of 6. He also contributed with the bat, scoring 18 runs off 15 balls.
8. Navdeep Saini:
Although Saini went wicketless, he amazed by his performance with the bat. When India was losing the game, he set up a crucial partnership with Ravindra Jadeja of 76 runs to bring India close to the target. He went to score 45 runs that included five fours and two maximums.
9.Mohammed Shami:
Team management’s decision to give rest to pacer Mohammed Shami, in the second game, had surely costed India.
However, he will get the chance in the third game as Jasprit Bumrah might be rested.
10.Yuzvendra Chahal:
In Auckland, Yuzvendra Chahal played the first ODI after six months. Well, he was also successful in giving breakthroughs to the team, picking the wicket of Henry Nicholls.
He got the chance in the second game as Kuldeep was rested.
11.Kuldeep Yadav:
After seeing him in the first ODI, it looked Kuldeep Yadav is struggling to perform his best. He proved to be the most expensive spinner in the first game. In 10 overs bowled, he picked two wickets giving 84 runs.
Also, he failed to complete the catch of Ross Taylor which brought down his confidence in the first game.
However, he will get the chance in the last game while going by his numbers.