Preview | Perfect excuse for India to test bench strength as New Zealand try to find motivation

India and New Zealand head into a dead rubber at the iconic Eden Gardens for the third T20I game on Sunday, 21 November. Having won the series with two consecutive victories India have every possible avenue to test their bench strength in the final encounter. New Zealand, on the other hand, would be looking for one final push at the end of their hectic white ball season that has made them travel across the world.

India’s options going into the game

Eden has historically been a pitch that has offered good help for the seam bowlers. India would certainly be tempted to test their pace bowling reserves by introducing Avesh Khan in the game.

Under the new administration of Rahul Dravid, India has seen two debuts in two games, so who knows if they will be completing the trinity with this one.

If that happens, India would like to rest their most experienced white ball pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and let the old legs heal as India go into a busy set of fixtures in the coming months.

Ruturaj Gaikwad, considering the form that he is in, surely deserves a shot. Eden could play well into his repertoire of shots, considering it has a lightning-fast outfield to aid his deft touches. Apart from that, this would be a good game to play Ishan Kishan, who has not had a game in this series so far.

New Zealand and the Eden pitch

There are only two possible ways that Eden can turn out. A flat batting track with pace bowlers getting good carry. Or a pitch with a little bit of grass left on it that will aid the pace bowlers. 

In the recently held Bengal T20 Challenge, Eden did produce pitches that bounced quite a bit and it had very little grip for the spin bowlers. In that case, New Zealand would find this pitch the most familiar to their own natural conditions back at home. That should even out the challenge a little bit for the visitors.

Match Details

India vs New Zealand

Match Number - 3

Date & Time - 21 November, 7 PM IST

Venue - Eden Gardens Kolkata

Pitch Report

As mentioned above, the pitch could be the one that offers help to the faster bowlers. Considering the amount of dew falling at Kolkata right now, it would be a no brainer to opt to bowl in case the captain wins the toss.

Team News

India

There were no injuries in the last game, but this could be a good time to test out the bench strength. With the captain unlikely to sit himself out, Ishan Kishan could come in place of Rishabh Pant, but might have to float between 3-5, something that has not been his strength playing for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL.

KL Rahul might make his way for IPL sensation Ruturaj Gaikwad as well.

Probable XI

Rohit Sharma (c), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravichandran Ashwin, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar, Avesh Khan

New Zealand

The visitors are unlikely to change their team and would likely be fielding their strongest available XI.

Porbable XI

Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert (wk), Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee (c), Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi

CE Fantasy XI

Ishan Kishan (wk), Rohit Sharma, Martin Guptill, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Jimmy Neesham, Daryl Mitchell, Tim Southee, Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan
Captain - Rohit Sharma

Vice Captain - Avesh Khan