India have hardly managed a sweat in this ongoing series and go into the fourth ODI with the series already in their bag. The visiting team has been clinical with both bat and ball - with players like Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Shami, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli leading the charge. However, a number of changes are expected from the side for the upcoming game, with Virat Kohli being rested for the remainder of the tour and Rohit Sharma, the stand-in skipper, likely to give youngsters a chance before the World Cup squad is narrowed down.
New Zealand, on the other hand, have looked unconvincing and at sea. They too have made changes to their team - dropped Doug Bracewell and Ish Sodhi - and the two replacements, James Neesham and Todd Astle, will be eager to make their mark.
Player Recommendations:
Wicket-keeper: Dinesh Karthik (8 credits)
With uncertainty around Dhoni's participation in the match - he missed the third ODI due to injury, the safest option for this spot is Karthik, who was surprisingly not considered for the first two matches of the ODI series. The keeper, who has made it a habit of staying till the very end ever since his comeback into the national team, ensured he got the job done in the third ODI, stitching together 38 runs at run-a-ball. After the quick dismissals of Rohit and Kohli, Karthik got together with Rayudu to take India over the line.
Batsman: Rohit Sharma (10.5 credits)
Rohit started the
India have hardly managed a sweat in this ongoing series and go into the fourth ODI with the series already in their bag. The visiting team has been clinical with both bat and ball - with players like Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Shami, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli leading the charge. However, a number of changes are expected from the side for the upcoming game, with Virat Kohli being rested for the remainder of the tour and Rohit Sharma, the stand-in skipper, likely to give youngsters a chance before the World Cup squad is narrowed down.
New Zealand, on the other hand, have looked unconvincing and at sea. They too have made changes to their team - dropped Doug Bracewell and Ish Sodhi - and the two replacements, James Neesham and Todd Astle, will be eager to make their mark.
Player Recommendations:
Wicket-keeper: Dinesh Karthik (8 credits)
With uncertainty around Dhoni's participation in the match - he missed the third ODI due to injury, the safest option for this spot is Karthik, who was surprisingly not considered for the first two matches of the ODI series. The keeper, who has made it a habit of staying till the very end ever since his comeback into the national team, ensured he got the job done in the third ODI, stitching together 38 runs at run-a-ball. After the quick dismissals of Rohit and Kohli, Karthik got together with Rayudu to take India over the line.
Batsman: Rohit Sharma (10.5 credits)
Rohit started the series on a dismal note, scoring only 11 runs but picked up pace as it has progressed, making two half-centuries in as many games. With the Kiwi bowlers looking ineffective thus far and with the shorter boundaries likely to come to his aid, Rohit will be eager to convert his starts and get to a triple-digit score. The opener has also traditionally done well when he is leading the side, so one can expect him to make an impact.
All-rounder: Hardik Pandya (9 credits)
Pandya's grit to shrug off the controversies of the recent past saw him mark a successful return to international cricket, as he managed to clinch two wickets whilst only conceding 45 runs. The Baroda all-rounder has impressed the Indian camp with his temperament, which goes alongside his cricketing skills, in the last 24 months or so. With Pandya capable of striking it big with the willow as well, he could well be the X-factor in the team.
Bowler: Kuldeep Yadav (9.5 credits)
Though Kuldeep went wicketless in the last game, he is a match-winner and overlooking him from the Dream11 squad will just be foolishness. The left-arm wrist-spinner has done well on surfaces that traditionally do not assist spinners - succeeding in countries like South Africa and England previously. In the first two games of this series, he picked up 4 for 39 and 4 for 45, respectively, which shows how threatening he can be.
Captain: Rohit Sharma
Vice-captain: Kuldeep Yadav
