India vs New Zealand, 3rd ODI - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

Series: New Zealand tour of India, 2023 Venue: Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore Date & Time: Jan 24, 01:30 PM LOCAL

Rohit looks in good touch © BCCI

Yet another clean-sweep!

In what turned out to be a run-fest at the Holkar Cricket Stadium, the 212-run opening stand between Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, alongside Shardul Thakur's all-round effort helped India clean-sweep the three-match ODI series versus New Zealand 3-0. The visitors managed 295 in pursuit of a monstrous target of 386.

New Zealand needed a quick start but they didn't get one as Finn Allen chopped Hardik Pandya's short of a length ball onto the stumps; paying the price for hanging back in the crease. Devon Conway (100-ball 138) and Henry Nicholls, though, counter-attacked with a 106-run second wicket stand. The duo brought out the scoop, pull, slog-sweep, alongside using their feet to put some pressure back on the Indian bowlers.

Just in the nick of time, Kuldeep Yadav trapped Nicholls in front with the skidder. Despite losing his batting partner, Conway continued to play with freedom, bringing out the slog-sweep, reverse sweep and occasionally chipping down the track to counter Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav. At 184 for 2, in 25 overs, New Zealand were very much in the hunt. But Thakur bowled a game-breaking spell to put India in pole position.

Thakur employed the cross-seam short ball to remove both Daryl Mitchell and the dangerous Glenn Phillips. He also dismissed Tom Latham with an attempted knuckle ball. In the 32nd over, New Zealand were dealt a hammer blow as they lost their centurion, Conway, chipping Umran Malik to Rohit at midwicket. Michael Bracewell (26) and Mitchell Santner made useful contributions but the duo couldn't repeat their heroics from the first ODI as the visitors were eventually bowled out in the 42nd over.

Conway too falls

Devon Conway too has been dismissed. End of a splendid knock. The southpaw flicked one from Umran midwicket where Rohit pouched the catch. Michael Bracewell then was stumped off Kuldeep Yadav.

India just three wickets away from clean-sweeping another series.

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Toss and teams:

New Zealand have opted to bowl. They could have batted first in batting-friendly conditions. India have picked Umran and Chahal, with Shami and Siraj missing out.

Rohit Sharma | India Captain: We would have batted first, as a team we want to get out and play well. It is a great ground to play in, everyitme we come here it has been a good score. What is important to give chance to some of the new guys who haven't had a game and see how they go. We have got two changes - Shami and Siraj are out, Umran and Chahal are in.

Tom Latham | New Zealand Captain: We are gonna have a bowl, it is a good surface and it will get better under lights. We have put good performances in the past and will look to put another good performance here. It will be high-scoring and the nature of the boundaries are short. We have got one change, Doug Bracewell comes in for Henry Shipley

Teams:

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Umran Malik

New Zealand (Playing XI): Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham(w/c), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy, Blair Tickner

Prelude:

Another ODI win. And yet another series victory for India. The Indian team's juggernaut at home continued as they crushed New Zealand by 8 wickets in the second ODI in Raipur to seal the series 2-0.

On a pitch that provided a bit of assistance for the pacemen, Mohammed Shami and co. ripped through the New Zealand batting unit. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill then strung together a stand of 72 to more less seal the deal.

Will India rest a few of their players for the final game? Can New Zealand take positives from the series by winning the last match at a ground where batters have generally found success?

All the action in a few minutes...

Look of the pitch:"Not the biggest stadiums going around. 60-61m on the sides, 69m straight and just 54 behind the stumps. It is going to be tough for the bowlers," says Danny Morrison. Ajit Agarkar adds, "You saw a bit of joy for the Indian pacers up front. I don't think that is going to be the case here. There is an even covering of grass through the middle of the pitch to hold it together and as the evening progresses, the ball will only skid on. Bare patches closer to the batters but I don't think it is going to matter because the pitch looks very firm and good for batting. If anything, because it's an afternoon start, might hold on a bit in the start of the innings, but it will only keep getting better and it's a batting day."