This game is anything but a dead rubber! Virat Kohli would hate to lose todayu2019s 3rd ODI against NZu2014 the last match of this seriesu2014 given Team Indiau2019s recent 5- 0 high in the shortest format 3rd odi: Preview Vimal Kumar sports@ mid- day. com Mount Maunganui: The last time India lost all the matches in an ODI series, Virat Kohli had not even made his Ranji Trophy debut.
In fact, only twice before ( in the West Indies, 1988- 89 and in South Africa, 2006- 07) and once at home ( against the West Indies, 1983) have India lost all matches in a bilateral series.
Though captain Kohli has claimed that ODIs arenu2019t too relevant this year compared to Tests and T20Is, he would hate to lose the last match of the series especially after the recent 5- 0 high in the shortest format.
u201c Every game is important, not just because are 2- 0 down. When you play international cricket, every game matters for every player. Itu2019s another opportunity to prove yourself,u201d said pacer Shardul Thakur ahead of the todayu2019s third ODI. Interestingly, though New Zealand have handed India their first series defeat which comes on the back of a successful streak of a dozen series wins since March 2019, the visitors havenu2019t lost a game on this ground, having played here twice before. That makes tonightu2019s fixture anything but a dead rubber. Yesterday, five of the India players ( Yuzvendra Chahal, Kedar Jadhav, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja and Prithvi Shaw) did not attend the optional practice session while the likes of Rishabh Pant and Shivam Dube spent a lot of time with the support staff.
It will be interesting to see if India decide to give both a game. Pacer Mohammad Shami, who bowled a few overs to the likes of Mayank Agarwal and Dube, is likely to make the playing XI. On the other hand, NZ have been struggling on the fitness front. Already feeling the absence of Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry, the hosts will miss the services of the experienced Tim Southee, their last- match hero. Pacer Scott Kuggleijn and Mitchell Santner will also be unavailable while leg- spinner Ish Sodhi has been summoned from a four- day game against India u2018 Au2019. Sodhi played the first ODI and missed the second.
The good thing is that skipper Kane Williamson is fit to play. u201c Itu2019s been great that the guys, who have come in, have done really well. The guys have played great ODI cricket for a while now. It was our first time since the World Cup but the group has played well for a long time. Itu2019s nice to have the series done after two games but we are looking forward to the third here,u201d said Southee.
India captain Virat Kohli and teammates during the second ODI against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland last Saturday. PIC/ Getty Images Interestingly, though New Zealand have handed India their first series defeat which comes on the back of a successful streak of a dozen series wins since March 2019, Virat Kohli & Co. have not lost a game on this ground [ Bay Oval], having played here twice before LIVE ON TV NZ v India, 3rd ODI, Star Sports 1, 07: 30
