India vs New Zealand Live Scorecard: All eyes on sky as IND clash with NZ in third and final ODI
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India vs New Zealand, 3rd ODI tip-off: Sanju Samson unlikely, Kuldeep Yuzvinder Chahal in for
Sanju Samson (BCCI/Twitter)
Ahead of the series, stand-in coach VVS Laxman said that multi-faceted players are the need of the hour in T20 cricket. “We need bowlers who can bat and batsmen who can bowl.” But again, the lack of a sixth bowling option has become a sore spot for Team India.
Sanju Samson’s exclusion from the T20 against New Zealand has raised eyebrows. Although Samson’s omission invited much criticism, he was again dropped from the second ODI as India could not afford to drop Rishabh Pant and the lack of bowling options among specialist batsmen effectively meant that Sanju Samson once again had to sit out, like in the last match where Deepak Hooda was preferred over the much-hyped Kerala cricketer due to his all-round abilities.
Since the previous match was a washout, it will be interesting if interim head coach VVS Laxman decides to make changes with the playing XI, especially the bowling attack where Kuldeep Yadav has yet to get a chance. But dropping either Yuzvinder Chahal or Washington Sundar would be detrimental for them. Sundar has also proved his mettle with the bat. (read more)
