After New Zealand bounced back in Rajkot with a seven-wicket win to level the series 1-1, all eyes now turn to Indore, where India and New Zealand will face off in the series-deciding third ODI.
In Rajkot, KL Rahul starred with an unbeaten 112 off 92 balls, but New Zealand’s disciplined bowling and another brilliant innings from Daryl Mitchell helped the visitors claim victory. With the series finely poised, both teams enter the finale with momentum and key milestones on the line.
For India, this match marks the final ODI for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli until their next assignment in July. Rohit is 17 runs shy of becoming the seventh opener in international cricket to reach 16,000 runs. Kohli, who recently reclaimed the No.1 spot in the ICC men’s ODI rankings, has registered 50-plus scores at 24 different Indian venues but is yet to reach a half-century at Indore.
KL Rahul has been exceptional against New Zealand, scoring 469 runs in 10 innings at an average of 93.8, including two centuries and a fifty, and will again play a key role in stabilising India’s middle order. For New Zealand, Daryl Mitchell remains a crucial threat, having scored three centuries in his last four ODIs against India in the country.
India hold a perfect record at Indore, winning all seven ODIs at Holkar Stadium, including massive totals of 399/5 against Australia and 385/9 versus New Zealand in 2023. Captain Shubman Gill is closing in on 3,000 ODI runs, needing just 70 more, and has scored centuries in both his previous games at this venue. Kuldeep Yadav will be keen to bounce back after a difficult outing in Rajkot, while New Zealand will rely on Devon Conway, who scored 138 off 100 balls here in January 2023.
With Gill chasing his first home ODI series win as captain and New Zealand aiming for their first bilateral ODI series triumph in India, the stage is set for an exciting decider.
Match Details:
When: Sunday, January 18, 1:30 PM IST
Where: Holkar Stadium, Indore
Live: Star Sports Network and JioHotstar
