India search for unassailable lead

Match Facts

Saturday, December 4
Start time 09.00 (03.30 GMT)

Three games remain but the ODI series already seems to be heading into a one-way street, and the focus has shifted towards the preparations for the World Cup. The success of Virat Kohli, Gautam Gambhir, R Ashwin, and Sreesanth must have heartened the Indian camp and the spotlight is now on the likes of Yusuf Pathan. Suresh Raina, who has one ODI fifty in the last 17 games, has got a break and his form can now be only monitored in South Africa.

Yusuf doesn't have much time to stake his claim. When Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag get back, and given Kohli's rich form, the think-tank could choose to play Yuvraj Singh as the allrounder at the expense of Yusuf and Ravindra Jadeja. Ashwin has perhaps already shoved Jadeja out of the equation with his performances.

That leaves Yusuf in the hot seat. You can understand India's desire to see him succeed. The pitches for the World Cup will most likely be flat patta tracks where Yusuf can hide his shortcomings against the short ball, and showcase his brutal power. Hope floats. On the other hand, we saw him suffocated by the short delivery even on the Indian tracks during the IPL this year and, unfortunately for him, his bowling hasn't reached a level where it can compensate for weaknesses in batting. Three games to go, a seat in the World Cup dugout awaits, will he seize the moment?

New Zealand have lost both games and the World Cup puzzle is yet to fall in place: Should Ross Taylor replace Kane Williamson at the crucial No. 3 position? When Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder return at the top, will Taylor, Scott Styris, and Williamson take up the positions from No.3 to No. 5? If Daniel Vettori bats at No. 7, who will then fill up the vital No. 6 slot? "Jacob Oram if he's fit, [James] Franklin is in the mix but I don't think [No.] 6 suits Grant Elliott's batting style," Craig McMillian, the former New Zealand batsman, believes. And where does Martin Guptill figure in this line-up?

The New Zealand seamers disappointed with their inconsistency in the first two games but a few good things have come out in the batting department. Guptill, prone to spontaneously combust after getting starts, has had two good games; Styris is proving as dependable as ever in the lower order; Vettori showed signs of returning to batting form after an indifferent run in the Tests; Taylor had a good first game and looked good for more in the second; Williamson is learning how to pace his innings and while he is yet to crack it, this experience will be invaluable.

Form guide

(most recent first)

India: WWWLW
New Zealand: LLLLL

Scott Styris is New Zealand's crisis man. He does what Shoaib Malik used to do at his best for Pakistan. He can bat sensibly and deal in singles if the occasion demands it, and can attack. He paces his innings really well and will be the vital cog in the middle-order.

Praveen Kumar returns after missing two games due to fever. He has been one of India's top ODI bowlers for some time now and will look to quickly get into his stride. His slower ones and cutters can test Brendon McCullum's adrenaline rushes.

Brendon McCullum batted in the nets without any discomfort and is likely to play.

New Zealand (probable): 1 Brendon McCullum (wk), 2 Martin Guptill, 3 Ross Taylor, 4 Scott Styris, 5 Kane Williamson, 6 Grant Elliott / James Franklin, 7 Daniel Vettori (capt), 8 Nathan McCullum, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Kyle Mills, 11 Andy McKay

Praveen and Zaheer Khan are likely to make the playing XI, and Saurabh Tiwary and Ravindra Jadeja might fight it out for the No. 6 spot.

India (probable): 1 M Vijay, 2 Gautam Gambhir (capt), 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Yuvraj Singh, 5 Yusuf Pathan, 6 Saurabh Tiwary/ Ravindra Jadeja, 7 Wriddiman Saha (wk), 8 R Ashwin, 9 Praveen Kumar, 10 Zaheer Khan, 11 Ashish Nehra/Munaf Patel

" Batting is what is going to win us games. It's important that New Zealand have a confident, aggressive batting line-up which is confident in its ability and can just go out and play its natural game.""

Former New Zealand batsman Craig McMillan sounds the alarm bells