IND vs NZ 3rd T20: Indian cricket is back in Kolkata, at the happy-hunting ground of captain Rohit Sharma, the Eden Gardens. It is at this very stadium that Rohit Sharma managed to pull off an ODI innings of 264 runs.
Despite winning the first two matches against New Zealand, the reserve players can be given a chance in the third and last T20 match.
Kiwis on the brink of a white-wash
On the other hand, this match is just a formality for the New Zealand team, which has played five matches within two weeks since the World Cup semi-final. Due to such a brutal schedule and the absence of captain Kane Williamson, the Kiwi team, which is on the verge of defeat by 0-3, the outcome of the bilateral series might not matter that much.
The Indian team has won the series after winning in Jaipur and Ranchi but there can be no better place to do a clean sweep than at the Eden Gardens. This is Rohit's first series as full-time T20 captain in which he won both the toss first.
Giving a chance to reserve players
Winning a series with one match remaining gives the captain a space to give place to new players and try combinations that are a bit unusual. Within a week of this, the Test series against New Zealand is going to start. Rohit and Dravid would now like to test the reserve players by giving them a chance. In case the sixth bowler is selected, Venkatesh Iyer can be made to bowl as the winds from the Hooghly river will give him the extra swing.
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Avesh Khan, and Ishan Kishan will be hoping that the captain will give them a chance in this match. Gaikwad, who was an orange cap in IPL, can bat at any of the first three places. For this, captain Rohit or vice-captain KL Rahul will have to sit outside.
Avesh Khan can be fielded in place of Deepak Chahar or Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Yuzvendra Chahal can play in place of Axar Patel or Ravichandran Ashwin. Ishan Kishan can be given a chance in place of Rishabh Pant, who is playing continuously from the World Test Championship.
Match will start at 7 pm
The Eden Gardens have been the batsmen's haven and the team batting later in November will find it easier because of the dew. The match will start at 7 pm.
The captain winning the toss would look to bowl first.