New Zealand vs India 2019, 3rd ODI, Match Prediction
Here is the match prediction of the 3rd ODI between India and New Zealand. Image Courtesy: Getty

The India National Cricket Team is heads and shoulders ahead of the Kiwis in the ODI series. In the two games played so far, the Men in Blue have found success in both; winning the first by eight wickets and the second ODI by 90 runs. However, the third One-Day is scheduled for Monday (January 28th ) in Mount Maunganui. Here, at Cricket Addictor, we will bring you the match prediction.

India holds the key heading in the 3rd ODI

The Indian team hasn’t done anything much wrong thus far. After their unprecedented Australia tour, they have been toiling with the star-studded NZ team at will. In the first two games, we saw the spinners turning out to be the ultimate threat for their batsmen. Not only they took 14 off 20 wickets, but also they didn’t leak runs. Plus, what benefited them was the change in bowling; not allowing batsmen to get settled in the middle.

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MS Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav
The issue of lower-middle-order seems to have solved. Image Courtesy: Getty

For the visitors, the opening pair knocked some runs in the previous game also. While Rohit Sharma scored 87 runs, Shikhar Dhawan too slammed a fifty, scoring 66 off 67 balls. Meanwhile, the pair stitched together a partnership of 154; helping them cross the legendary duo of Sachin-Sehwag for most century stands for India in the ODIs. Later, captain Kohli too put some runs on the board, though he couldn’t reach his half-century.

However, the best part of India’s batting line-up has been their lower-middle order. With Kedar being among the runs, and MS Dhoni, of course, hitting a purple patch this year; the India National Cricket Team seemed to have ticked all the boxes.

Here is India’s predicted XI for the 3rd ODI –

Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (c), Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal and Mohammed Shami.

Struggling New Zealand aims to comeback

The Kiwis have been struggling against India in the ODIs so far. Even before the series began, they were touted to be the only team who could bother India, given their recent run-of-form. However, they didn’t live up to the expectations.

New Zealand head coach, Gary Stead pointed out some problems too. He said the lack of partnerships had hurt NZ in the series. Furthermore, he added with the openers not coming good with the bat; the pressure is falling on the middle-order, which they have not managed to tackle in two games. Also, the spin duo of Kuldeep and Chahal and have been a thorn in the flesh of the batsmen.

Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav
The Indian spin duo have been a threat for the hosts in the ODI series. Image Courtesy: Getty

Meanwhile, not only their batsmen have been disappointing, but their bowlers aren’t up-to-the-mark as well. In the second ODI, they conceded 324 runs and took just four wickets. So, evidently, the hosts have to do a lot of homework for the third game, which could decide the fate of the series as well.

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Here is New Zealand’s predicted XI for the 3rd ODI –

Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham, Colin Munro, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Doug Bracewell, Lockie Ferguson and Trent Boult. 

Here is the match prediction –

Despite India leading the series 2-0 here, New Zealand would begin as the favourites in the next game.

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