Persistent rain a day ahead of the third and final T20I between India and New Zealand scuppered practice sessions of both the teams. The players were slated to practice ahead of the game to assimilate to the conditions in Thiruvananthapuram, but rain meant that no team could have an idea about the new stadium.
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This is not the first time in the series when the Indian team has been barred from practice. Earlier in the series, few Indian players had themselves skipped the optional practice sessions, but this time, when all the players were vying to have a go in the nets, rain played a spoilsport.
In fact, there are chances of rain coming down on the match day as well, which can also have an impact on the game. It has been raining in the state for the fifth running day now, and the downpour is expected to continue until the match day.
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Though the newly built stadium has one of the best-draining systems and the ground staff would need not more than 20 minutes to make the stadium ready for play, even after a heavy downpour.
Despite this, the fans and the players would hope for the rain to stay away as the series is evenly poised at the moment and the final game will decide the ultimate winner.
Photo by Vipin Pawar / BCCI / SPORTZPICS
India won the first T20I quite comfortably and defeated Kane Williamson led side by a margin of 53 runs at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium. In the second game, visitors made a comeback and defeated India by a big margin of 40 runs.
The home team will be looking to create history by posting there first ever series win over New Zealand while Kiwis outlook to continue their unbeaten series streak against India in this format of the game.
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