India and New Zealand will face each other in the third T20I of the five-match series on October 26. The match will be played at the Hnry Stadium in Wellington.
India lead the series 2-0 and will look to seal it with another win. However, the Indian team has suffered a setback ahead of the match, as Ishan Kishan has been ruled out due to a thigh injury. The left-handed batter suffered the injury during the first T20I and also missed the second game. Although Kishan trained with the team on Monday, he will not be available for the third match. In his absence, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is likely to get another opportunity in the playing XI.
Who Will Open For India In The Third T20I?
Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson are likely to continue as India’s opening pair for the third T20I against New Zealand.
Both batters have been part of India’s opening combination, and the team is unlikely to make changes to the pair. With Ishan Kishan unavailable, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could get another chance in the playing XI, but he is expected to bat at number three.
Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Retain His Place In The Playing XI?
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is likely to retain his place in the team for the third T20I. The young batter played in the second match in Ishan Kishan’s absence but could not make a big impact.
He scored four runs off eight balls in his previous outing. However, with Kishan ruled out again, Sooryavanshi could get another opportunity to prove himself at the international level.
Shreyas Iyer is expected to bat at number four, followed by Tilak Varma. Tilak was India’s standout performer in the second T20I and won the Player of the Match award for his contribution to the successful chase.
Which All-Rounders Are Likely To Play For India?
Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir and Axar Patel are expected to retain their places in the playing XI.
Reddy played an important role in India’s second-match victory. He remained unbeaten on 26 off just 13 balls as India chased down the target of 181 runs in the final over.
Naman Dhir and Axar Patel are also likely to keep their places as India look to maintain the balance of their team and seal the series.
Which Bowlers Are Likely To Feature In The Third T20I?
Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh are expected to share the new ball for India.
Prince Yadav is also likely to retain his place after an impressive performance in the previous match. He conceded just 30 runs in his four overs and could be preferred over Mayank Yadav once again.
India will hope their bowling attack can restrict New Zealand and help the team secure another win.
What Is India’s Likely Playing XI For The Third T20I?
India are expected to make no major changes apart from the forced absence of Ishan Kishan. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is likely to feature again, while the rest of the combination could remain unchanged.
India’s likely playing XI: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav.
Note: Ishan Kishan has been ruled out of the match, so the XI above includes Shreyas Iyer and Nitish Kumar Reddy in place of the inconsistent names in the supplied lineup.