An abandoned second ODI due to rain had spoilt the milk over team India’s chances to win the away ODI series against New Zealand, after having already clinched the T20I series 1-0 earlier.
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However, after suffering a loss against the Kiwis during the first ODI, Shikhar Dhawan’s men would want to leave the New Zealand shores on a positive note, and with a stalemate series result for the records.
The two sides will face each other at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Wednesday (November 30), to play the third and the final ODI.
Focus would yet again remain on the Indian bowlers, who have collectively not had a good-run in limited Overs matches this year. Having said that, despite the second ODI being called-off, the team think-tank was heavily criticized for leaving out Sanju Samson from the playing XI to accommodate a sixth bowling option in Deepak Hooda.
While India have no business to make changes to the playing XI, Samson might yet again have to unfortunately warm the bench and bear the cost for the selection dilemma.
IND vs NZ 3rd ODI pitch report of Hagley Oval Christchurch
The Hagley Oval in Christchurch will host an ODI contest after March 2021, when hosts New Zealand had defeated Bangladesh by 5 wickets while chasing the target of 272 runs.
Notably, today will be first time India would play an ODI at the Hagley Oval, which has hosted a total of 15 One-Dayers till date.
The average score at this venue across these 15 ODIs is 276.5 runs, which is enough testament to the fact that the surface has been a paradise for the batters. Expect the fresh pitch for the match to play the same, and a high-scoring contest to be likely on the cards in front of the sold out Hagley Oval.
With the weather predicting some rain during match time, the overcast conditions will bring the seamers into play, with the captain winning the Toss highly likely to field first.
