India and New Zealand are ready to face each other in the final match of the 3-match ODI series at Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore, on Sunday, January 18. This match is scheduled to begin at 1:30 PM IST. Stay tuned with our IND vs NZ prediction, team preview, pitch report, player stats and winner prediction ahead of this exciting contest.
This series has now reached its final and exciting stage, where, in the beginning, it seemed that India would easily whitewash New Zealand, but it did not happen. After losing the first match, New Zealand made a comeback in the second match and defeated India by 7 wickets, making the series equal at 1-1. Now, the team that wins this match will win the series as well. In the last match, New Zealand performed brilliantly in both bowling and batting and took advantage of India’s shortcomings to win the match easily. This match is going to be crucial for both teams, hence both will want to win this match at any cost and capture the series.
Head-to-Head Record: Till now, a total of 122 ODI matches have been played between these two sides, in which India performed outstandingly and won 63 games, while New Zealand has won 51. Moreover, India performed well in the recent past; they won four of the last five head-to-head games.
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India Preview
The Indian team started the series on a high note, securing a comfortable win in the first match. But failing to maintain the momentum in the second, they scored 284 runs while batting first, but could not stop New Zealand from achieving their target. In the last match, the Indian side had to pay the price for its weak bowling by losing the match.
In batting, in the previous match, India got off to a strong start with a 70-run partnership between Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill from the top order. However, the host lost four wickets for 118 runs, which was managed by KL Rahul in the middle order, who scored a brilliant 112 runs and helped India post a respectable total of 284. Apart from Rahul, captain Shubman Gill also played a good innings of 56 runs. India will need big partnerships to win the 3rd match.
In the last match, the Indian bowling looked completely out of form. After setting a target of 285 runs for New Zealand, the Indian bowlers took wickets in the early overs but later failed to break the strong partnership of Daryl Mitchell and Will Young, due to which the Indian side easily lost the match by seven wickets. India can win this match only by removing the weakness of its bowling; hence, there will be a great need to work on it.
Tip
| Player | Tip | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| KL Rahul | Over 38.5 Runs | 1.85 |
KL Rahul played a superb knock of 112 in the last match, holding India’s innings together after early wickets. His composure and consistency in the middle order make him a strong pick to cross this line again.
New Zealand Preview
After losing the first match of the series, New Zealand made a strong comeback in the last match and defeated Team India in an exciting match. Chasing 285, New Zealand batted brilliantly in the last match, especially the 162-run partnership between Will Young and Daryl Mitchell helped New Zealand win the match by 7 wickets.
In batting, New Zealand had a great performance in the last match. Despite being given a good target, New Zealand took it as if nothing was in front of them. Daryl Mitchell’s innings of 131 runs in 117 balls played a major role in New Zealand winning the match. Apart from him, Will Young also played a brilliant innings of 87 runs. The Kiwi fans will expect the batters to continue their batting in the same manner in the third match.
In the last match, New Zealand also showed a good bowling performance, where the host had a good start. But due to excellent bowling, they did not allow big partnerships to happen between Indian batters. Kristian Clarke bowled well, taking three wickets for 56 runs in eight overs. Apart from him, the other bowlers also got one success each. The Kiwis would like to repeat the same performance in the last match as well.
| Player | Tip | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Daryl Mitchell | Over 45.5 Runs | 1.85 |
Daryl Mitchell was outstanding with a match-winning 131 in the previous game. His current form and confidence make him New Zealand’s biggest batting threat once again and a strong pick to cross this line.
IND vs NZ Probably Playing XI
India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (C), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
New Zealand: Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Hay, Glenn Phillips, Mitchael Bracewell (C), Zak Foulkes, Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Adithya Ashok
IND vs NZ Pitch Report
The pitch at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore is generally a batsman-friendly one. High-scoring matches are often played here, and this match is expected to be similar. However, as the match progresses, the pitch will also favour the bowlers, making it difficult to chase a huge target in the second innings. Furthermore, dew will certainly have an impact on the game.
The weather at Holkar Stadium, Indore is expected to be sunny, around 23°C, with 0% chance of rain, moderate 55% humidity, and light winds near 10 km/h.
Venue ODI Statistics
| Stats | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 12 |
| Matches won batting first | 7 |
| Matches won bowling first | 5 |
| Average 1st innings Score | 292 |
| Average 2nd innings Score | 243 |
| Highest total recorded | 418/5 (50 Ovs) – IND vs WI |
| Lowest total recorded | 97/10 (24 Ovs) – RSAW vs AUSW |
| Highest score chased | 294/5 (47.5 Ovs) – IND vs AUS |
| Lowest score defended | 247/9 (50 Ovs) – IND vs RSA |
IND vs NZ Winner Prediction
The Indian side is in excellent form and has consistently performed well in the ODI format. Apart from this, the host has continued their good performance against New Zealand as well in the recent past. So, India will be the favourites to win this match. Furthermore, India can also want to take advantage of their home conditions.
On the other hand, New Zealand surprised the Indian side with its impressive performance in the last match. They have young but extremely talented players who have the ability to defeat any team. Therefore, underestimating New Zealand in any way in the 3rd match can become a problem for the Indian side.
Our Prediction: India
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