India vs New Zealand 3rd ODI: Arshdeep Singh replaces Prasidh Krishna, Gill opts to bowl

India will take on New Zealand in third ODI [Source: AFP]

On Sunday, India and New Zealand locked horns in the third and final clash of the ongoing three-match ODI series. The high-voltage encounter is being played at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore.

At the toss, Indian captain Shubman Gill won and opted to bowl first against the Kiwis.

Talking about the changes, India have made one altercation to their playing XI, with Arshdeep Singh coming in for Prasidh Krishna, while New Zealand have retained the same lineup as their previous match.

IND vs NZ 3rd ODI: Playing XIs

New Zealand playing XI: Henry Nicholls, Devon Conway, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell (c), Mitchell Hay (wk), Zakary Foulkes, Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Jayden Lennox

India playing XI: Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh

IND vs NZ 3rd ODI: Captains Thoughts

Shubman Gill (India Captain): "We will bowl first. Great chance for us. New Zealand put us under a bit of pressure but these are the moments all the players wait for.

[on Indore being a high scoring venue] That is one of the factors we have decided to bowl first. Don't think there will be much of a dew here. Always good to have a total in front and chase it.

[on what needs to be improved] We need to vary the lengths a bit more in the middle overs. If you don't pick wickets in the middle overs it becomes difficult to stop any big total.

Michael Bracewell (New Zealand Captain): "Yeah, it looks like a good surface. I guess we quickly have to shift our mindset to bat first. That's why you turn up to the series to be in the decider. It is a great opportunity for us to win our first ODI series over here. 

(On Youngsters) Yeah, I think they have brought their domestic game into the international stage. Again with the series on the line, you want to be able to do that stuff under pressure. Looking forward to seeing how they go again today. No changes from the last game."

India vs New Zealand: What happened in 2nd ODI

After losing the opening ODI, New Zealand came back strongly in the second match to keep the series alive. Winning the toss, the visitors chose to bowl first, a decision that paid dividends despite a competitive total from India.

India posted 284 for 7, anchored by KL Rahul’s unbeaten century. Shubman Gill provided solid support with a fluent 56 off 53 balls, but the rest of the batting order failed to convert their starts into substantial scores. 

Rohit Sharma made 24 before falling to an ambitious stroke, while Virat Kohli’s innings of 23 ended when an inside edge crashed into his stumps. Shreyas Iyer struggled for timing, and Ravindra Jadeja’s 27 off 44 did little to accelerate the innings.

Daryl Mitchell guides New Zealand to clinical win over India

Meanwhile, New Zealand’s chase began shakily with both openers dismissed early. However, a match-defining 162-run partnership for the third wicket between Will Young and Daryl Mitchell turned the game decisively. 

Young scored 87, his first fifty-plus score in 12 ODI innings, while Mitchell played a commanding knock, finishing unbeaten on 131 from 117 balls. Glenn Phillips added an assured 32 not out as New Zealand sealed victory with 15 balls remaining.

With the three-match ODI series now level at 1–1, the decider is set to be a tense and closely fought contest.