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As the India vs New Zealand ODI series reaches its thrilling climax, the focus has shifted to the high-stakes decider in Indore. After a dominant start by India in Vadodara, the Black Caps roared back in Rajkot to level the series 1-1, turning the final match into a virtual knockout. With the series on the line, the team management faces a massive selection dilemma between sticking to the tried-and-tested or introducing fresh blood. Legendary opener Sunil Gavaskar has weighed in on the situation, suggesting that the pressure of a series finale will dictate India’s strategy. The Holkar Stadium is known for its high-scoring games, but the fear of losing a home series might force India to play it safe.
Sunil Gavaskar expressive his surprise over New Zealand’s comfortable win
Following India’s unexpected seven-wicket defeat in Rajkot, Gavaskar expressed his surprise at how comfortably New Zealand chased down the target. He noted that the sluggish nature of the pitch should have favored the Indian bowlers, but Daryl Mitchell‘s brilliant century dismantled those hopes.
Gavaskar emphasized that because the series is now tied, the Indian team has lost the elbow room it would have had to test its bench strength. The luxury of trying out new combinations is gone, and the focus must now purely be on securing the trophy. Gavaskar highlighted that the pressure in Indore will be immense, as New Zealand has never won an ODI series in India and will be smelling blood. For India, the third ODI is no longer a game for testing; it is a game for survival.
“I was surprised by how easily New Zealand got across the line because, before they started batting, everyone thought India would be able to make use of the slowness of the pitch. With their bowlers, not just the spinners, but all of them, using the slowness of the surface well, it felt like India would be able to restrict New Zealand to around 260 or 270. I thought that would have been an easy win for India.” Gavaskar was quoted as saying by the NDTV Sports.
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Gavaskar names Indian player who will miss the Indore ODI vs New Zealand
The most significant casualty of this must-win approach is likely to be Yashasvi Jaiswal, the explosive southpaw who many fans were eager to see in the playing XI. Despite being in incredible form across formats, Jaiswal has found himself on the sidelines as the team continues to back the regular opening pair.
Gavaskar stated that had India secured the series in Rajkot, Jaiswal would have almost certainly received a run in Indore to showcase his white-ball prowess. However, with the series at 1-1, the veteran believes the management cannot afford to take any risks by dropping an established performer. This situation leaves Jaiswal, a player many consider a future cornerstone of the ODI side, waiting in the wings yet again.
“If India had won this match, they would have had the freedom to experiment a little. Perhaps they would have given a chance to players who haven’t played yet. Someone like Jaiswal could have also got a chance. Gavaskar said that all this could have been possible, but now they can’t take any risks. They have to play with their best eleven.” Gavaskar concluded.
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