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India lead New Zealand 2-0 in ODI series, third match in Hamilton on Tuesday

India have won the first two one-day matches against New Zealand. A third win would seal the five-match series. Rain and seam-friendly conditions could make the match a real test for the batters.

Seddon Park
Representative photo: Seddon Park. Photo: JaumeBG / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

India have won the first two one-day matches against New Zealand. That puts them 2-0 up in the five-match series.

The third match is in Hamilton on Tuesday.

Hamilton City (11196408876)
Representative photo: Hamilton City (11196408876). Photo: Archives New Zealand from New Zealand / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

A win there would seal the series for India. But the conditions could make the contest tough for both sides.

It has been raining in Hamilton, and the pitch has been under covers for long periods.

Such pitches usually help seam bowlers. Seamers are fast bowlers who make the ball move in the air and off the pitch.

Key points

  • India lead the five-match one-day series 2-0 against New Zealand.
  • The third match is in Hamilton on Tuesday. A win would seal the series.
  • Rain and seam-friendly conditions could test the batters.
  • Shubman Gill will miss the last two matches to prepare for a Test.

So why are India's top batters under pressure?

India's batting has not clicked in every game yet.

Rohit Sharma, 39, a former captain, scored 0 and 23 in the first two matches.

Shubman Gill scored 37 in the first match. He was dismissed off the first ball of the second match.

India's 2-0 lead and key scores
2-0Lead in the five-match ODI series
5 matchesMatches in the series
37 runsShubman Gill's score in match one
26 runsRahul's unbeaten innings in Wellington

Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report

Virat Kohli was the bright spot. His innings at Eden Park in Auckland showed his skill in chasing a target.

New Zealand's batting coach Luke Ronchi said the bowlers have had the upper hand. He saw nothing wrong with that.

What changes in the team for the last two matches?

Gill will not play the last two one-dayers.

He will switch to red-ball cricket, the longer format, to prepare for the opening Test in Wellington.

Shreyas Iyer will lead India in the last two matches in Tauranga.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir may also rethink one choice. Axar Patel has been sent in at No. 5, ahead of KL Rahul.

Rahul scored an unbeaten 26 in Wellington.

Axar's game may not suit seam-friendly pitches.

Ishan Kishan is expected to take over wicket-keeping from Rahul in the last two games.

What does this mean for the Test series?

India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said the swing and seam in the first two one-dayers needed some adjustments.

He said one-day cricket still needs its own mindset.

So the Test team may also learn from these conditions. Gill's focus now shifts to Wellington, where the Test series begins.


Sources