India and New Zealand are getting ready to face each other in the fifth and final ODI, to be played on Sunday at Bay Oval. Both sides are having their own motives and have a lot to play for. India, who are carrying a 2-0 lead, will be determined to secure a series victory, whereas New Zealand will look to carry forward the momentum in the fifth game.
New Zealand have already lost the opportunity to claim the series, but their thumping 244-run victory in the fourth ODI has given them renewed confidence and a chance to level the series. It was also the Black Caps’ second-largest victory by runs in their ODI history. Now they will aim to come out with another tremendous performance to deny India a series win. The hosts also have a terrific record to protect, as they have remained unbeaten in bilateral ODI series at home since 2019, and India were the last visiting side to defeat them in a series on their own soil back in 2019.
On the other hand, India, having experienced a horrible defeat in the fourth match, will hope for an improved show to clinch the series. Chasing 334 for victory, they were undone by New Zealand pacer Matt Henry, who ripped through their top order, taking the wickets of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer in the very first over. Virat Kohli has been the standout performer with the bat for India, but the likes of Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad would be expected to step up and play their part.
Head-to-head
Matches - 124
NZ won - 52
IND won - 64
No result - 7
Tied - 1
New Zealand possible XI: Will Young, Tim Seifert (wk), Nick Kelly, Mitch Hay, Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Kristian Clarke, Matt Fisher, Jacob Duffy, Blair Tickner
India possible XI: Rohit Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Naman Dhir, Axar Patel, Auqib Nabi, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh