With an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, India have already secured their fifth successive bilateral T20I series win st home. Now, going into the third and final fixture against New Zealand, at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Sunday night, they will look to give the reserves a go with an eye on the next 2020 T20 World Cup, in Australia.
The players tried out at Jaipur and Ranchi have more or less produced satisfactory performances. New faces like Venkatesh Iyer and Harshal Patel have lived up to expectations. R. Ashwin, playing T20Is at home after five and a half years, has impressed as well, with 2-23 and 1-19.
The team management will now want to assess the likes of Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yuzvendra Chahal and Avesh Khan here. After the second T20I, captain Rohit Sharma assured that "time will come" will come for those who had not got a chance yet. He also believed that the team management needs to look after those already picked, by giving them a longer go.
New Zealand, on the other hand, have struggled to put up a commanding performance barring the occasions phases. Their openers have done well, but the middle order has not got going. Their bowlers, too, did not look as effective as they were back in the UAE.
At Ranchi, Tim Southee was a standout performer, but he lacked support at the other end. And while the spinners have done a decent job, it has not been enough to contain a power-packed Indian batting line-up.
The toss also went against them in both the the matches.
Hence, in this final game of the series at an iconic venue, they will like to finish on a high note before focussing on the Test series.
Likely XIs
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, R. Ashwin, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Avesh Khan
New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert (wk), Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee (c), Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult
Fantasy tips
- Back India to pick Kishan as an opener ahead of someone like K.L. Rahul, who is due for a break.
- New Zealand may bring include Lockie Ferguson. Considering his form in the UAE you may think about picking him in your fantasy squad. Boult also get a rest here to rejuvenate himself ahed of the Test series.
- Rohit has a fantastic record at Eden Gardens and he is a must pick.
Fantasy XI:
Rishabh Pant (wk), Rohit Sharma (c), Martin Guptill (vc), Suryakumar Yadav, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Harshal Patel, Lockie Ferguson, Yuzvendra Chahal