Scores Upcoming Results
07-Oct-2016 05:52:00 GMT
India v New Zealand, 3rd Test, Indore

India eye Test whitewash against New Zealand

Indore: India skipper Virat Kohli will look to a whitewash in the series finale against New Zealand starting Saturday -- and halt a rare slump in his own form in the process.

Since scoring his first Test double century against the West Indies in July, the normally prolific Kohli has failed to pass 50 in any of his subsequent seven innings and is averaging only 20 against the Black Caps.

India's comfortable wins in the first two matches of a three-Test series have allowed them to overtake Pakistan at the top of the rankings and also divert attention away from Kohli's downturn in form.

Kohli aside, India's batting has been sound in the first two Tests but Shikhar Dhawan's broken thumb has opened the door for a recall at the top of the order for veteran Gautam Gambhir.

The aggressive left-hander, who enjoyed a successful opening partnership with the now retired Virender Sehwag, played the last of his 56 Tests on India's tour of England in the summer of 2014. But he has forced his way back into contention after a strong showing on the domestic circuit.

There will also be a change to the bowling line-up after medium-pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who took six wickets in Kolkata, was ruled out on Wednesday with a back strain and the uncapped Shardul Thakur drafted in as a replacement.

New Zealand are expected to welcome back skipper Kane Williamson, who missed the second Test due to a viral infection.

The Black Caps will be aiming to avoid their second successive series whitewash in India after losing the 2012 rubber 2-0.

The tourists have performed well in patches but have been guilty of failing to push home their advantage at key moments.

Senior batsman Ross Taylor, who led the team in Kolkata, said New Zealand were still keen to display their aggressive brand of cricket in the final Test.

Pitch and conditions:
The match marks the first time the Holkar Stadium, located in Indore in Madhya Pradesh state, has hosted a Test match and the pitch is expected to favour batsmen and seam bowlers.

Teams from

India: Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, Gautam Gambhir, Cheteshwar Pujara, Karun Nair, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Shardul Thakur

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Jeetan Patel, Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, BJ Watling (wk), Henry Nicholls, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Jimmy Neesham, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner

Stats and trivia

  • It will be first Test in Indore and Madhya Pradesh too.
  • Ajinkya Rahane needs two-run to completes 2000 Test runs.
  • Neil Wagner requires one-wicket for 100-Test wickets.

Match facts
8-12 October 2016
Start time 0930 local (0400 GMT)

Umpires and referee
Ground umpires -
Kumar Dharmasena and Bruce Oxenford
Third and Fourth Umpires - Chettithody Shamshuddin and Nitin Menon
Match referee - David Boon


Scores Upcoming Results
Related links

Top