Team India has everything to play for in the third and final ODI against New Zealand on November 30 in Christchurch. The second One-Day International at Seddon Park in Hamilton could only last 12.5 overs because of rain, which forced the game to be abandoned.
Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill, among others, gave good performances during their brief stints, but the Men in Blue will need to work together to beat the Kiwis and salvage a drawn series.
In light of this, let’s take a look at three contests whose outcomes could determine the course of the game in Christchurch:
#3 Kane Williamson vs. Yuzvendra Chahal
In the first one-day international, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson and leg-spinner Tom Latham absolutely dominated Yuzvendra Chahal. The duo kept finding boundaries at regular intervals and rotated the strike fairly well, so the leggie could not break the partnership.
Despite the fact that Chahal was unable to bowl against Williamson in the second ODI, the pair has a fascinating head-to-head record. In ODIs, Williamson has been run out four times and has scored 103 runs from 130 balls off Chahal.
Because of this, the competition is fairly even, and the outcome of the matchup between India and New Zealand in Christchurch will be intriguing.
#2 Shubman Gill vs. Tim Southee
The weather in Hamilton was overcast and the pitch appeared to have some moisture, making it a little difficult for the Indian openers. However, Shubman Gill was able to fairly successfully combat the Kiwis’ new-ball threat, particularly when up against the experienced Tim Southee.
Gill has been unbeaten in ODIs so far, scoring 16 runs off 23 balls from Southee. He has, however, been disqualified once in T20 matches and once in Test matches when the two teams met.
This could be a fascinating battle if Southee gets a swing and even a little movement off the field in Christchurch, as the Indian opener has been vulnerable to the moving ball in the past.
#1 Suryakumar Yadav vs. Lockie Ferguson
The second One-Day International appeared to be in Suryakumar Yadav’s comfort zone because it was reduced to 29 overs per side and was almost like a T20.
Before the rain stopped them, “SKY” did manage to score 34* runs off of 26 balls. However, those who watched ball-by-ball know that he did have some issues with Lockie Ferguson at the beginning of his innings.
Yadav was new to the field, so Ferguson’s pace and bounce appeared to be a little too much for him. In the first ODI, the fast bowler has already bowled the Indian batter out. However, SKY has also destroyed Ferguson in the T20I series and appeared to break free in the second One-Day International just before the rain arrived.
As a result, it will be an exciting battle to watch, with neither side indicating any intention of holding back.