INDvsNZ 3rd T20I: Pandya, Karthik heroics not enough, New Zealand beat India by 4 runs to clinch series

India have an ideal opportunity to finish more than three months in Australia and New Zealand without a series defeat for the first time ever if they manage to win this T20I at Hamilton.

Indian stand-in captain Rohit Sharma opted to chase after winning the toss in the series-deciding third T20I at Hamilton on Sunday.

With the series locked at 1-1, India decided to bring in their best spinner Kuldeep Yadav in place of Yuzvendra Chahal. The depth in the batting was the reason behind India opting to chase in the crunch game, clarified Rohit Sharma at the toss. "The combination allows us to chase as we bat deep. We have a good record chasing. It's been a long summer for us, we are all are professionals and we have a job to do," Rohit said.

India have an ideal opportunity to finish more than three months in Australia and New Zealand without a series defeat for the first time ever if they manage to win this T20I at Hamilton. A victory here will also help India equal Pakistan's world record for the longest undefeated run in T20Is (11 series). India are currently undefeated in 10 T20I series.

For New Zealand, Central Districts fast bowler Blair Tickner made his debut. He was straight away drafted into the playing XI in place of Lockie Ferguson who was rested from the final T20I. With 15 wickets in 8 games, he emerged as one of the best fast bowlers in New Zealand’s domestic T20 competition, earning him a maiden call-up against India. 

"Tickner comes in, he makes his debut, a well-deserved opportunity. In T20 cricket, to take wickets is really important. We have to assess the conditions. Fantastic performance in the first game, not quite there in the second. That is very important in T20 cricket," said New Zealand captain Kane Williamson. 

New Zealand (Playing XI): Tim Seifert(w), Colin Munro, Kane Williamson(c), Daryl Mitchell, Ross Taylor, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Scott Kuggeleijn, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Vijay Shankar, MS Dhoni(w), Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, K Khaleel Ahmed