The third match of the five-match ODI series being played between India and New Zealand was washed out due to rain. Due to continuous rain on Tuesday, not a single ball could be bowled in the match and ultimately it was declared cancelled. With this, the Indian team retained the unassailable 2-0 lead in the series and won the series. With this the entire three-match series ended without any result.
In the match, Indian captain Shubman Gill won the toss and decided to bowl first. The start of the match was delayed due to rain and the match was reduced to 40 overs. However, soon after the toss it started raining again. Due to the weather not improving, there was a possibility of further reduction in overs, but due to continuous rain the match could not start.
Both the teams had made these changes
The Indian team did not make any changes in its playing eleven for the third ODI. At the same time, New Zealand included Matthew Fisher in the final eleven in place of injured Blair Tickner. However, due to rain, players of both the teams did not get a chance to come on the field and play the match.
Rain spoiled Bumrah-Jadeja's preparation
Let us tell you that Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja did not get a chance to get match practice after a long break as the third unofficial Test between India A and New Zealand A ended in a draw due to rain on the fourth and final day of play here on Tuesday. Even on Monday, the third day of the match, play could not be played due to rain. In this way all the matches of the three match series remained a draw. India A declared the innings at 464 runs for five wickets with the help of Yashasvi Jaiswal's second consecutive century of the series and half-centuries from Sai Sudarshan, Dhruv Jurel, Tilak Verma and Washington Sundar. By the end of the second day's play, New Zealand A had scored 36 runs for two wickets.
This match was very important from the Indian team's point of view because Bumrah and Jadeja, who were returning after the break, were expected to get a chance for match practice. Bumrah played his last match on October 3 in the final of the Asian Games against Pakistan in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. He was rested from the limited overs leg of the New Zealand tour to remain fresh for the two-Test series starting in Wellington on November 19. In this match, Bumrah got a chance to bowl only six overs in which he gave 11 runs. He wanted to get into good rhythm by bowling several spells before the Test series but bad weather spoiled his preparations.
Bumrah got only six overs, Jadeja could not bowl.
Jadeja, who usually plays the role of the lead batsman in overseas conditions, got a chance to bat. He faced 71 balls and scored 25 runs and remained at the crease for one hour and 20 minutes. However, Jadeja did not get a chance to bowl as India A team could bowl only 14 overs.
Jaiswal's second consecutive century, India A made a big score
Apart from Bumrah, Jadeja, Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Sai Sudarshan, Washington Sundar and Akash Deep will now leave for Wellington where the Indian senior team will look to prepare through six practice sessions in the event of no rain.
Performance of Jaiswal and Padikkal positive for the team
Talking about the India A series, Jaiswal's two consecutive centuries and Padikkal's brilliant performance were two big positive things for the team. Padikkal had scored 199 runs in the first unofficial test, due to which he almost confirmed his place at number three. Sudarshan also proved his usefulness by scoring some half-centuries.
Indian players will prepare for test series in Wellington
After battling injury for a long time, Akash Deep is also slowly regaining his rhythm. In such a situation, it will be interesting to see whether head coach Gautam Gambhir and Test captain Shubman Gill, apart from Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, include a fourth specialist fast bowler in the team or not. Akash Deep is also capable of batting usefully.
Team India's unbeatable lead in the series
In this five-match series, the Indian team had already taken a 2-0 lead by winning the first two matches. Even after the cancellation of the third match, India's lead remained intact and it is no longer possible for New Zealand to make a comeback in the series.
This update came regarding the next two matches
The third ODI cricket match between India and New Zealand to be played at Seddon Park here on Tuesday was canceled due to rain. India leads 2-0 in the five-match series. Both the teams will now leave for Tauranga for the final two matches where the matches will be played on 13 and 15 November. Indian captain Shubman Gill won the toss for the third consecutive time and decided to bowl first. India did not make any changes in the team that played in the last two matches.
However, when the covers were removed from the field for the 40-40 over match, it started raining once again. Despite there being at least 70 minutes left in the scheduled time limit of 7:50 pm local time for the 20-20 over match, both umpires decided to abandon the match.
Shreyas Iyer will be the captain in the last two ODIs
The weather forecast for this match was already gloomy with a 90 percent chance of rain throughout the day. This was to be the last match of captain Shubman Gill and experienced wicketkeeper batsman Lokesh Rahul in the series. After this both will join the Test team in Wellington. Along with him, Kuldeep Yadav, Anshul Kamboj and Mohammad Siraj will also join the Test team. In the absence of Gill, Shreyas Iyer will captain the Indian team in the last two matches. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan are likely to get a place in the eleven for the last two matches.