India will look to seal the five-match ODI series when they face New Zealand in the fourth match at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, on Friday, November 13. The visitors lead 2-0 after two rain-affected wins, and a victory in the morning game would put the series beyond the hosts’ reach.
The fourth ODI is scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM local time in New Zealand, which is 7:30 AM IST. The match will be telecast on the Sony Sports Network and streamed live on SonyLIV.
India won the opening ODI in Auckland by five wickets under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, and followed it up with a four-run win under DLS in the second match. The third ODI, at Seddon Park in Hamilton on November 10, was abandoned without a ball being bowled because of persistent rain.
The final two matches of the series will be played with a reshuffled Indian squad. Shreyas Iyer has taken over the captaincy for the fourth and fifth ODIs, with Shubman Gill and KL Rahul rested. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli remain part of the squad, and Kohli’s form will be central to India’s plans. The former captain has scored 1,009 runs in his last 14 ODIs at an average of 90, including four centuries.
New Zealand, meanwhile, will be boosted by the return of big-hitting opener Finn Allen, who is back in the side for the home stretch of the series. Allen has the ability to change a game in the powerplay, and the hosts will hope he can give them the fast start they have lacked so far. Kyle Jamieson and Matt Henry will lead the bowling attack against an Indian top order that has looked in good touch.
Bay Oval, which will also host the fifth ODI on November 15, is known for its true batting surface and short boundaries, and another high-scoring contest is expected if the weather holds. The forecast will be watched closely after rain disrupted the first three matches of the series.
For India, the series is also a chance to test their bench strength ahead of a busy home season. The two-Test series against New Zealand begins on November 19, and the selectors will be watching the performances of the fringe players in these final two ODIs closely.
New Zealand need to win both remaining matches to square the series, and Friday’s game is effectively a must-win for the hosts. India, with a 2-0 cushion and form on their side, start as favourites, but the hosts have the firepower to keep the series alive.
