Since the last couple of weeks, rain and wet outfield have followed India in their limited-overs tour of New Zealand 2022. The second ODI between New Zealand and India on Sunday (November 27) was called off due to consistent showers in Hamilton. It was the second game of the ongoing tour to be washed out apart from the T20I series opener in Wellington on November 18.
The weather prediction for the third and last ODI in Christchurch on Wednesday is also not very bright. Scattered showers and ample breaks between play can spoil India’s hopes of levelling the three-match series. New Zealand won the first ODI comprehensively in Auckland on last Friday.
“High cloud, then showers developing from afternoon, possibly heavy. Westerlies turning fresh southerly in the afternoon, strong about Banks Peninsula,” the MET department predicted for Wednesday.
With rain around, it will be an interesting toss between Kane Williamson and Shikhar Dhawan, and what they opt to do as DLS will surely play its part.
Meanwhile, the time is running out for Rishabh Pant, who has failed to consolidate his position in the Indian batting line-up. Fans are unhappy with the team management’s decision to pick the struggling Pant ahead of in-form Sanju Samson in the playing XI.
Probable XI of both teams:
New Zealand – Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson (c), Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson
India – Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant/ Sanu Samson (wk), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Deepak Chahar, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.