India vs New Zealand 2019, 3rd T20I- Preview And Predicted Playing XI

PREVIEW

The Black Caps are set to host the Indian team for the series decider at the Seddon Park in Hamilton. The series is wonderfully poised at 1-1 and both the sides have everything to play for in the final T20I.

After a terrible outing in the first T20I, the Indian bowlers made a terrific comeback in the second game to level the three-match series. It was a do-or-die situation for the visitors, and they performed magnificently under pressure and emerged victorious by seven wickets to pull one game back in their favor.

Having won the toss, the Kiwis decided to bat first on a pitch that seemed to be a batting paradise. Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled a lovely spell upfront and denied the opening batsmen to free their arms.

The pressure kept building up from both ends which eventually led to the first wicket in the form of Tim Seifert (12). Krunal Pandya was declared the Man of the Match for his outstanding spell of bowling of 3 for 28. The home side was restricted to 158 runs at the end of 20 overs, despite Colin de Grandhomme’s heroics in the middle overs.

India started the chase tremendously well to keep the Kiwis on the back foot from the word go. The Indian ace duo dominated the early stages of the innings and put up an opening stand of 79 runs.

Rohit Sharma looked in excellent touch in his innings of 50(29) before getting out to Ish Sodhi in the deep. Rishabh Pant also played a crucial knock of 40(28) after struggling in the first game as MS Dhoni came in the middle to join his rightful heir and took the Indian team over the line with seven balls to spare.

The Men in Blue bounced back in style from the first defeat in the opening match and the stage is set for the decider in Hamilton. Having lost the ODI series by 4-1, New Zealand would be hoping to seal the T20I series to boost their confidence and morale in the camp. However, the Indian team must be eyeing to end this historic tour on a high.

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GAME DETAILS

Date: Sunday, February 10, 2019

Time: 12:30 PM IST

Venue: Seddon Park, Hamilton

League: India tour of New Zealand 2019

Live Telecast: Star Sports Network

Online Streaming: Hotstar

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Head to head (in T20Is)

Total – 10

India –3

New Zealand – 7

Ground Stats for T20Is

Total Matches- 9

Matches won batting first- 4

Matches won bowling first- 5

Average 1st Inns score- 168

Average 2nd Inns score- 155

Highest total recorded- 202/5 (19.4 Ov) by NZ vs ZIM

Lowest total recorded- 78/10 (17.3 Ov) by BAN vs NZ

Highest score chased- 202/5 (19.4 Ov) by NZ vs ZIM

Lowest score defended- 194/7 (20 Ov) by Eng vs NZ

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Team News

India:

- India is likely to go ahead with the same playing 11.

New Zealand:

- Blair Tickner has been added in the squad for the final match.

- Lockie Ferguson can make way for Blair Tickner.

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SQUADS

India:

Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, MS Dhoni(wk), Rishabh Pant, Kedhar Jadhav, Vijay Shankar, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddharth Kaul, Khaleel Ahmed.

New Zealand:

James Neesham, Colin Munro, Tim Seifert(WK), Kane Williamson (C), Ross Taylor, Daryl Mitchell, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Scott Kuggeleijn, Doug Bracewell, Blair Tickner, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Ish Sodhi.

KEY PLAYERS

India:

- Rohit Sharma

- Rishabh Pant

- Hardik Pandya

New Zealand:

- Colin Munro

- Kane Williamson

- Tim Southee

Probable Playing XI

India: Rohit Sharma(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni(w), Vijay Shankar, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed.

New Zealand: Tim Seifert, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson(c), Daryl Mitchell, Ross Taylor, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Scott Kuggeleijn, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner.