There is popular saying which goes “higher the rise, the harder the fall” and after the Hamilton ODI against New Zealand, Team India can’t agree with his that anymore. A moving ball, a fired up Trent Boult and the absence of stalwarts like Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni all had its impact as India, having already sealed the series with three straight wins in the first three ODIs, were bundled out for a meager score of 92 – their lowest ODI score since 2010 – and succumbed to an eight-wicket demoralizing loss.

After the loss, Rohit Sharma, the stand-in captain, termed the performance with the bat as the worst by the Indian team in recent times. He acknowledged that the Indian team is well aware of their weakness against the moving ball. However, one has to note down the fact that the last three ODIs at Wellington have been more batting friendly. 

India will also have Dhoni fit and available for the final ODI, adding more steel and experience to their batting order. They will also back their top order to shrug off the one-game slump and come good.

ALSO READ: Locations Of Two T20Is Between India And Australia Swapped

For New Zealand, they will try their best to make the scoreline look good on the paper. However, there are certain chances that the veteran opener, Martin Guptill will miss the game as he injured his back during practice, and they will most likely try out another new opening combination in Henry Nicholls and Colin Munro.

Kane Williamson also looking out fo touch as after scoring 64 in the first game, he has failed to capitalize on the starts. However, with Ross Taylor in great form, New Zealand will look for someone to bat long and alongside the middle order stalwart to ease their woes. Their bowlers too should be far more enthusiastic after their performance in the last game and will be expected to continue with the form.

Both the teams will lock horns with each other for the 5th and the final ODI at the Westpac Stadium, Wellington. It has also been expected that the batsmen will get some time to breathe at the pitch along with some assistance for the fast bowlers as well. 

ALSO READ: Predicted XI Of India For The Wellington ODI

With chances of Dhoni coming back, Shubman Gill or Dinesh Karthik are expected to go back to the bench. On the other hand, the Kiwi will have forced change with Guptill injured, they will also be looking to add an extra pacer in place of either Mitchell Santner or Todd Astle.

Predicted XIs

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Shubman Gill/Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal

New Zeland: Henry Nicholls, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wk), James Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Todd Astle/Doug Bracewell/Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Trent Boult

Some important stats ahead of the game: 

• New Zealand have lost their last three ODIs at the Westpac Stadium – against Australia in 2016, against South Africa in 2017 and against England in 2018.
• Williamson is the leading run-scorer in ODIs at this venue with 434 runs at 72.33. Ross Taylor averages 73.00 here while Guptill’s averages 50.25.
• Tim Southee is the leading wicket taker at thie venue with 25 wickets from nine ODIs at 17.92 including his career best of 7/33.
• If Rohit Sharma fails to score a century in the fifth ODI, it will be first time he will be finishing a series without a three-figure score since the home series against New Zealand in 2016.
• If he gets to a century in the Wellington ODI he will surpass former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly in the elusive list of most ODI hundreds for India. Both Ganguly and Rohit are sitting together with 22 centuries apiece but another hundred will help him to make number three position his own.