After taking a 2-0 lead in the ongoing 5-match series against New Zealand, Team India is looking to take an unassailable 3-0 lead at the Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui. They defeated the hosts by 7 wickets and 90 runs in the first two ODIs. In the third game, the Kiwi skipper, Kane Williamson decided to bat after winning the toss. However, the Indian skipper, Virat Kohli made two changes in the quad as MS Dhoni and Vijay Shankar made way for Dinesh Karthik and Hardik Pandya.
While Dhoni exclusion was forced as he suffering from a hamstring strain, Hardik’s inclusion was by choice as after getting free from the suspension, he was available for the solution. On the other hand, the hosts also made a change in their squad as Mitchell Santner replaced Colin de Grandhomme.
Pandya hasn’t played an international game since the final group stage match against Pakistan at Dubai (DSC) in the Asia Cup 2018 on 19 September 2018. During that game, Pandya suffered an acute back injury when he was bowling and soon he had to leave the ground on a stretcher.
ALSO READ: Hardik Hit A Thousand Balls In Australia After Suspension
After the great all-around performances in his domestic cricket return after recovering from the injury, Pandya returned to the national squad for the last two Tests of the four-match Test series in Australia but he wasn’t selected in the playing XI.
Later, he entered the controversy after his sexist comments in the popular Indian talk show “Koffee with Karan”. Though Pandya was in the ODI squad of that tour and he was expected to be selected in playing XI during that series, he was suspended along with KL Rahul for their inappropriate comments in that talk show. Recently, his suspension has been lifted and he has been returned to the Indian squad for the ongoing limited-overs tour in New Zealand.
Playing XIs of both the teams:
India: Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Shami
IND XI: R Sharma, S Dhawan, V Kohli, A Rayudu, K Jadhav, D Karthik, H Pandya, B Kumar, K Yadav, M Shami, Y Chahal
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 28, 2019
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (c), Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wk), Henry Nicholls, Doug Bracewell, Trent Boult, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson.
Here are some of the reactions of fans on Twitter over the selections:
Hardik Pandya returns but no MS Dhoni in India XI!
New Zealand win the toss and elect to bat in the third ODI at the Bay Oval.#NZvIND LIVE ⏬
https://t.co/C81irz9QmP pic.twitter.com/NGjLNiDKuC— ICC (@ICC) January 28, 2019
That was quick! Hardik Pandya is back in the Indian XI. But scare for India as MS Dhoni is out with a hamstring strain #IndvsNZ
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) January 28, 2019
NZ win the toss. And bat. Playing two spinners.
India’s made two changes—
MSD is sore—DK plays
Hardik is IN—Shankar Out#NzvInd @StarSportsIndia— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 28, 2019
Nice to see Hardik Pandya back in the field and do what he does best and with fun & smile!! #INDvsNZ
— Ethir Katchi (@sudhanks) January 28, 2019
https://twitter.com/KapilGarcha/status/1089713271777615872
Fuck team hai…..sob jhuth hain msd ko hardik k karon drop kia hain…
— Sahnowaz Choudhary (@SahnowazC) January 28, 2019
https://twitter.com/midwickett/status/1089713077078147073
Sir Jadeja should have been consider over Koffee Man(Hardik) for playing XI. Left hand batsman,All rounder. Sir Ko be chance dedo .
— SaurabhShelar (@SaurabhShelar17) January 28, 2019
https://twitter.com/HelicopterShot6/status/1089712860547203072
https://twitter.com/Abhijit_19/status/1089711844200071168
Hardik – Aaj maine kar ke aaya
Public – Abbey yaar, phir se aise baatein
Hardik – Arrey nahi yaar. Aaj mein team mein wapsi ki.#NZvIND— Ronald D Sampson (@rdsampson_25) January 28, 2019
If Hardik Pandya is player of the match, will Diana Eduji allow him to be interviewed post-match#NZvInd
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) January 28, 2019
WC ki team me jab bumrah aa jayenge to hardik pandya ki jagah ban payegi, kedhar jadav is a match winner aur ek behtar bowling option bhi #AskStar
— Uttam Pandit (@Pandit1994U) January 28, 2019
