India will take on New Zealand in the fifth and final ODI of the series at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Sunday, November 15. The visitors currently lead the series 2-1 after winning the first two matches, while the hosts registered a dominant 244-run victory in the fourth ODI to keep the contest alive. India will now have an opportunity to secure their first bilateral ODI series win in New Zealand since 2019.
However, the visitors will have to make at least one change to their playing XI after Gurnoor Brar was called up to the Test squad ahead of the two-match series. Shubman Gill, Anshul Kamboj, jasprit bumrah and Nitish Kumar Reddy are also unavailable for the final ODI. Mohammed Siraj is expected to get an opportunity, while the team management will want its senior batters to respond after a disappointing performance in the previous match.
Mohammed Siraj likely to replace Gurnoor Brar
The most likely change in India’s bowling attack is the inclusion of Siraj in place of Brar. The latter has been one of the standout performers in the series and is currently India’s leading wicket-taker, but he will miss the final match after being added to the Test squad. Siraj, meanwhile, has been part of the ODI setup but is yet to feature in the ongoing series.
The experienced pacer could get an opportunity to build some rhythm ahead of the upcoming Test assignments against New Zealand. His ability to generate movement with the new ball and deliver effective spells in the middle overs could strengthen India’s pace attack. Arshdeep Singh and Auqib Nabi are also expected to retain their places after featuring in the previous matches.
Kuldeep Yadav is likely to keep his place in the playing XI despite an expensive outing in the fourth ODI. The left-arm wrist-spinner was targeted by New Zealand’s batters in the middle overs, but India could back him to make an impact in the series decider. Axar Patel is also expected to feature as the team’s spin-bowling all-rounder.
Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan likely to retain their places
India are expected to retain Ruturaj Gaikwad at the top of the order alongside Rohit Sharmaa. Gaikwad has been part of the opening combination in the absence of Gill and is likely to get another opportunity in the final match. Rohit, meanwhile, will be keen to make a significant contribution after struggling to get going in the previous ODI.
Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer are expected to occupy the next two positions in the batting order, with Iyer continuing as captain. Kohli has already produced an important innings in the series but has managed only seven and zero in his last two outings. The experienced batter will be eager to finish the tour on a positive note, particularly with the final ODI offering another opportunity to deliver in front of the New Zealand crowd.
Ishan Kishan is likely to continue as the wicketkeeper-batter at No. 5, while Plant Man could retain his place in the middle order. Kishan’s presence will provide India with a left-handed option, while Dhir can contribute with both bat and ball. Patel is expected to follow them at No. 7, giving the visitors additional depth in their batting lineup.
India’s batting lineup needs to respond after 89 all out
India will be under pressure to produce a much-improved batting performance after being bowled out for just 89 in the fourth ODI. The visitors lost three of their most experienced batters, Rohit, Virat and Iyer, for ducks before the rest of the lineup failed to recover. Matt Henry led New Zealand’s bowling attack with a devastating spell that left India with little chance of chasing the target.
The team management will expect a stronger response from its top order in the series decider. India had shown their batting quality earlier in the series, but the latest collapse has raised concerns about their ability to handle disciplined pace bowling. With the series on the line, the senior batters will have a major role in ensuring that the visitors do not repeat their mistakes from the previous encounter.
India have also been looking to end their wait for a bilateral ODI series victory away from home under head coach Gautam Gambhir. They have lost away series against Sri Lanka, Australia and England during his tenure, making the Mount Maunganui encounter an important opportunity. A win would not only secure the series but also provide the team with a positive result before shifting its focus to the Test format.
India’s predicted playing XI for the 5th ODI
- Rohit Sharma
- Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer (c)
- Ishan Kishan (wk)
- Plant Man
- Axar Patel
- Auqib Nabi
- Mohammed Siraj
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Arshdeep Singh