After the hosts wrapped up the series with wins from each of the first two Tests, the two teams move to the Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore for the final match of the series.
Despite the series result already being decided, there is a lot to play for in the third Test, especially for Virat Kohli’s men. A win for India will mean that Pakistan can’t overtake them at the top of the ICC Test Rankings even if they whitewash West Indies in their three-Test series in the UAE as expected.
The entire Test Rankings scenario between India and Pakistan is explained here.
There were some doubts if this Test would take place or not after reports emerged that the Lodha Committee had directed banks to freeze BCCI’s accounts. The reports were soon put to bed by Justice Rajendra Mal Lodha who said there was no question of cancelling the tour.
This match will be the first ever Test to be staged at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore. The stadium has hosted four one-day international matches with India winning all four of them.
DATE, TIME, VENUE INFO
Date: October 8, 2016 – October 12, 2016
Time: 09:30 local time (IST), 08:00 GST, 04:00 GMT,
Venue: Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore
WHERE TO WATCH, LIVE STREAMING INFO
TV: UAE – OSN Sports Cricket HD; India – Star Sports 1, HD 1 (English), Star Sports 3, HD 3 (Hindi); UK – Sky Sports 5 HD
Online streaming: starsports.com, Hotstar app (in India only)
LIVE scorecard: Sport360match centre with ball-by-ball commentary
TEAM NEWS, SQUAD, PREDICTED XI
INDIA SQUAD: Kohli (c), Rahane, Vijay, Gambhir, Pujara, Rohit Sharma, Nair, Saha (wk), Jadeja, Ashwin, Mishra, Shami, Umesh, Jayant, Thakur.
A couple of months ago, very few people would have thought that Gautam Gambhir would make a comeback to the Indian team. Good form in the Duleep Trophy, where Gambhir scored 356 runs in three matches at an average of 71.20, saw cries from some quarters for his inclusion.
Those pleas were ignored as the Indian selectors decided to stick with the same squad that went to the West Indies.
After the first Test, KL Rahul’s injury opened a door and it was Gambhir who would benefit as he was named as the Karnataka batsman’s replacement in the squad. Gambhir had to sit out of the second Test as Shikhar Dhawan was preferred over him, only for Dhawan to suffer an injury of his own in that match.
Now, there is nothing standing between Gambhir and the opener’s slot alongside Murali Vijay. The Delhi batsman will want to grab the opportunity with both hands and prove that he’s not done at the international level yet.
On the bowling front, Bhuvneshwar Kumar will miss the third Test due to a back strain with Mumbai pacer Shardul Thakur named as his replacement in the squad. Umesh Yadav is likely to replace Bhuvneshwar in the playing eleven.
PREDICTED INDIA XI: Vijay, Gambhir, Pujara, Kohli (c), Rahane, Rohit, Ashwin, Saha (wk), Jadeja, Shami, Umesh.
NEW ZEALAND SQUAD: Williamson (c), Guptill, Latham, Taylor, Watling (wk), Neesham, Nicholls, Ronchi (wk), Santner, Boult, Bracewell, Sodhi, Wagner, Henry, Patel.
There are a few selection headaches for the Blackcaps ahead of the final Test of the series at Indore.
Captain Kane Williamson should come back into the side after missing the Kolkata Test due to illness. Williamson’s return means that either Martin Guptill or Henry Nicholls will have to sit out on Saturday.
Guptill has been under pressure in a year in which he has struggled in the longest format but Nicholls is most likely to be sacrificed. If Guptill does get the axe, expect Luke Ronchi to move up the order.
Although the pitch in Indore isn’t expected to assist the fast bowlers like the one in Kolkata did, we could see New Zealand going in with three quicks once again.
PREDICTED NEW ZEALAND XI: Guptill, Latham, Williamson (c), Taylor, Ronchi Santner, Watling (wk), Wagner, Henry, Boult, Patel.
FORM
(Last five matches – with latest match first)
INDIA: W W D W D
NEW ZEALAND: L L L D W
MATCH PREDICTION
India to win.