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India’s Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli during the practice session ahead of the third and final ODI Match against New Zealand at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on January 17, 2026. | Photo Credit: R V Moorthy
Come Sunday (January 18, 2026), India will hope for a similar script. Gill, now captain, and Shreyas, returning after a serious injury, will be central to the hosts’ plans in the decider against a confident New Zealand.
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The series has been a tight one. In the opener at Vadodara, Virat Kohli’s well-crafted 93 ensured India crossed the line. However, the contest exposed the frailties in the Men in Blue’s bowling department as the Black Caps posted 300 for eight. Seasoned spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav have failed to find their rhythm. Given the tweaker’s inability to strike, left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh could be included for the crucial encounter.
In the Rajkot game, the Kiwi bowlers maintained impeccable lines and lengths after the visitors opted to field first. Medium-pacer Kristian Clarke ran through the top-order, dismissing Rohit Sharma, Kohli and Shreyas before skipper Michael Bracewell and left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox applied pressure in the middle overs. Bracewell and Lennox’s combined spell (20-1-76-2) strangled India and K.L. Rahul’s unbeaten 112 was the silver lining as Gill’s men finished with 284 for seven.
With the conditions easing under lights, Will Young’s fluent 87 and Daryl Mitchell’s sensational unbeaten knock of 131 powered the Kiwis home with seven wickets and 15 balls to spare.
Confident bunch
The manner in which the Black Caps have made runs will boost their confidence heading into the decider as they seek their first ODI series win on Indian soil. On the other hand, if the hosts get their act together, another home series win is possible. With the Indore surface promising a run-fest, a thrilling finale is on the cards.
The teams:
India: Shubman Gill (Capt.), Shreyas Iyer (Vice-capt.), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, K.L. Rahul (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Nitish Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Ayush Badoni.
New Zealand: Michael Bracewell (Capt.), Adithya Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay (wk), Kyle Jamieson, Nick Kelly, Jayden Lennox, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rae, and Will Young.
Match starts at 1.30 p.m.
Published – January 18, 2026 06:09 am IST
