The five-match ODI series comes down to one game at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Sunday, November 15. India lead 2-1 after Friday’s 244-run defeat, their second-heaviest ever by runs, and a win would seal a 3-1 series victory and their first ODI series win in New Zealand since 2019. A New Zealand win would level the series at 2-2 and turn a tour India had controlled into a drawn rubber days before the Tests begin.
Neither side will field the attack that shaped Friday’s game. Matt Henry, whose career-best 6 for 27 included a triple-wicket maiden that removed Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer without a run, has been released to the Test camp along with Kyle Jamieson, so New Zealand must defend their momentum without the bowler who destroyed India. India, meanwhile, have lost Gurnoor Brar to their own Test squad, leaving Matthew Fisher, Jacob Duffy, Brett Randell and Blair Tickner to lead the home pace attack, and Mohammed Siraj in line for his first ODI of the series, with uncapped Yash Thakur a possible debutant. Both could play together if Kuldeep Yadav is benched after going for 73 wicketless runs on Friday.
India’s batting has the most to prove. Rohit, Kohli and Iyer all fell for ducks in the first over on Friday, and Ishan Kishan’s 27 was the top score in a total of 89. Ruturaj Gaikwad is expected to open with Rohit again, Kishan keeps wicket and stands in as vice-captain, and Kohli has a milestone to chase after passing Ricky Ponting’s 1,971 ODI runs against New Zealand in Wellington — he now has 1,978. Iyer’s post-match defence, that “no one threw the wicket away”, sits awkwardly beside head coach Gautam Gambhir’s blunt verdict that “there are no unplayable deliveries”, and the decider is the first chance to settle that argument on the field.
New Zealand’s batting, by contrast, is full of confidence. Will Young’s career-best 125 from 108 balls anchored Friday’s 333, Tim Seifert made 58 in an 85-run opening stand, and Finn Allen’s 41 from 30 gave the innings its early pace. Mitchell Santner again leads a side that has already shown it can post a big total at this ground.
The pitch itself is the other big question. New Zealand posted 333 in the first innings on Friday, then the ball seamed around under lights and India were bowled out for 89. Iyer said the surface changed completely between innings, and the side that wins the toss on Sunday may well bat first and put runs on the board before the evening movement arrives. The match starts at 7:30 AM IST.
Related:
Henry’s Career-Best Six-For Powers New Zealand to Record 244-Run Win Over India in Fourth ODI
‘There Are No Unplayable Deliveries’: Gambhir Blasts India’s Batting After 89 All Out
