India vs New Zealand, 3rd ODI

The 3rd ODI between India and New Zealand at the Holkar Cricket Stadium promises an intriguing encounter as both sides seek to gain the upper hand in this bilateral series. India, buoyed by their recent consistent performances at home, have showcased a blend of experienced campaigners and emerging talent. Their batting lineup has been formidable, with key players delivering under pressure. New Zealand, known for their tactical acumen and resilience, have adapted well to Indian conditions, although their recent form has been patchy. Historically, the head-to-head contests here have favored India slightly, especially when playing on home soil. India’s strategy revolves around leveraging their strong top order and disciplined spin attack, exploiting the slow turning wicket. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s plan hinges on exploiting swing conditions during the initial overs and relying on their depth in pace bowling. Key players like India’s top-order batters and spinners will look to capitalize on familiar conditions, while New Zealand’s bowlers must maintain tight lines to restrict scoring. Field placements and match tempo control will be critical aspects of both teams’ tactics. Considering the recent performances, adaptability to conditions, and home advantage, India holds a slight edge going into this match.

AI suggested match winner

India: 58%, New Zealand: 42%

Given the Holkar Cricket Stadium's reputation for being a balanced pitch that assists spinners as the game progresses, the first-innings total can vary depending on batting conditions and team approaches. If India bats first, a competitive total around 280-300 runs is plausible, as their batting lineup is robust and capable of exploiting powerplay overs effectively before the pitch slows down. Conversely, if New Zealand bats first, a score between 260-280 is expected, considering their slightly less fluent batting in Indian conditions but strong ability to build partnerships in the middle overs. Both teams will likely value wickets early, aiming to accelerate in the last 10-15 overs. The pitch’s tendency to aid spinners in later stages means teams batting second will have to plan their chase carefully.

The Holkar Cricket Stadium offers a surface that traditionally supports spin bowling, particularly from the 30th over onward, with a dry and slow pitch challenging for batsmen in the death overs. Historically, the average first-innings score here in ODIs hovers around 280 runs. Teams batting second have a mixed record; while the chasing side has won roughly 45% of matches, successful chases tend to be in the 270-280 run range. Weather forecasts indicate clear skies with mild temperatures around 25°C, which should not affect play. The ground’s boundaries are moderate in size, enabling stroke play but necessitating good timing. Top performances at this venue include India’s spin maestro R. Ashwin with a best bowling figure of 5/30 and batsman Virat Kohli holding the highest score of 144*. For New Zealand, Trent Boult's left-arm pace has been effective here with notable wickets, and Martin Guptill has registered two half-centuries at this ground.

Matches Played	India Wins	New Zealand Wins
45	26	19

Team Recent Performance

Match	India	New Zealand
1st ODI	Won	Lost
2nd ODI	Lost	Won
Previous Match	Won	Lost
Last 5 Matches	3 Wins, 2 Losses	2 Wins, 3 Losses

Virat Kohli – Kohli has been in fine touch, consistently anchoring the innings and accumulating runs at a controlled pace in the last few games.

Ravindra Jadeja – Jadeja’s all-round contributions, especially his economical spell and handy batting down the order, have proven vital for India.

Shubman Gill – Emerging as a reliable opener, Gill has scored crucial runs against quality bowling, showcasing a solid technique.

Trent Boult – Boult leads New Zealand’s pace attack, consistently taking early wickets and exploiting any swing present.

Martin Guptill – Guptill offers aggressive starts and has shown the ability to capitalize on powerplays in Indian conditions.

Devon Conway – Conway has been steady in the middle order, stabilizing the innings and rotating the strike under pressure.