India's tour of New Zealand ODI series has reached its conclusion, with the fifth and final game scheduled for Mount Maunganui on November 15 at 7:30 AM (IST). The series has become interesting after the Kiwis pulled a win back to keep it alive, with a scoreline of 2-1.
While New Zealand cannot win the series, they will aim to tie it ahead of the Tests. The fourth ODI saw India get dominated by Will Young's 125(108) and Matt Henry's 6/27, as they were all out for 89 while chasing 333. Ahead of the ODIs, here is a look at the player battles to watch for the decider.
Will Young vs Auqib Nabi
Criterion
Stats
Runs
15
Balls
20
Outs
1
Strike Rate
75.00
(Will Young vs Auqib Nabi ODI stats)
Auqib Nabi has made great use of the bowling-friendly conditions on offer in New Zealand early on in the innings.
In their two face-offs, Auqib has kept Will Young quiet, while consistently inducing edges and false shots.
Rohit Sharma has scored two ducks in the series and is in desperate need of runs before heading back home, so the batter will be eyeing a big score on Sunday.
With Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson out of the final ODI, Jacob Duffy will lead with the new ball. Rohit has struggled in these conditions, and some good seam bowling could be instrumental early in the innings.
So far, Rohit has had an upper hand in their head-to-heads, scoring 36 runs at a strike rate of 150 in two innings.
Finn Allen vs Axar Patel
Criterion
Stats
Runs
9
Balls
8
Outs
1
Strike Rate
112.50
(Finn Allen vs Axar Patel ODI stats)
Finn Allen returned to the ODIs after over 3 years in the last match in Tauranga and immediately had an impact. Replacing Glenn Phillips, Allen batted at 5 and got 41(30).
As the game progressed, the pitch at the venue got flatter, making scoring easy, and Axar Patel used his experience in the last match with a brilliant 2/39(10).
It was the only ODI head-to-head between Allen and Axar, and the batter scored 9(8) before getting dismissed by the left-arm orthodox bowler. Notably, Allen and Axar have enjoyed a fierce rivalry in T20Is, with the batter registering a strike rate of 227.6 and the spinner dismissing him four times.
Ishan Kishan vs Blair Tickner
Criterion
Stats
Runs
0
Balls
2
Outs
0
Strike Rate
0
(Ishan Kishan vs Blair Tickner ODI stats)
Ishan Kishan is filling in the massive boots of KL Rahul at number 5, where he has to up the ante against considerably older balls or avert collapses, unlike his role in T20Is.
Kishan has shown big improvement in T20 cricket, but his ODI batting outside the subcontinent remains under the scanner. He scored 27 off 53 as India's best batter in the last match, but Kishan could be troubled by genuine pace and some movement.
Previously, Blair Tickner has only bowled to the southpaw once in 2023. Upon his return from a concussion scare, he is likely to be used in the middle overs and face Ishan Kishan.
The bowler can use his pace and bounce to trouble Kishan and put India in a precarious situation.
![IND vs NZ - 5th ODI Player Battles [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1794643865648_RohitSharmaJacobDuffyINDNZ.jpg?type=hq)
IND vs NZ - 5th ODI Player Battles [Source: AFP]
