After winning the first three matches of the series convincingly, the Indians suffered a horror show with the bat in the fourth game as they were dismissed for only 92 runs in the first innings. Trent Boult was the wrecker-in-chief at Hamilton as he bowled ten consecutive overs and troubled the Indians with his swinging in-swingers and variations in pace.
However, with a drop-in pitch being used for the next game, chances that bowlers will have a huge say in the game is less. With short boundaries and with the pitch likely to have variable bounce, teams should be eyeing for a score above 310 if they bat first. The highest total recorded at the ground is 393 runs, which the Kiwis scored against Windies in the World Cup four years ago.
For India, stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma will be eager to end the ODI tour on a high and inspire his troops to a dominating win, while the home team will want to continue their form from the last game and end with the series reading 2-3.
Player Recommendations:
Wicket-keeper: Dinesh Karthik (8 credits)
With uncertainty around Dhoni's participation in the match - he missed the last two ODIs due to injury, the safest option for this spot is Karthik, who was dismissed for a duck in the last game. However, the keeper has made it a habit of staying till the very end ever since his comeback into the national team, and ensured he got the job done
After winning the first three matches of the series convincingly, the Indians suffered a horror show with the bat in the fourth game as they were dismissed for only 92 runs in the first innings. Trent Boult was the wrecker-in-chief at Hamilton as he bowled ten consecutive overs and troubled the Indians with his swinging in-swingers and variations in pace.
However, with a drop-in pitch being used for the next game, chances that bowlers will have a huge say in the game is less. With short boundaries and with the pitch likely to have variable bounce, teams should be eyeing for a score above 310 if they bat first. The highest total recorded at the ground is 393 runs, which the Kiwis scored against Windies in the World Cup four years ago.
For India, stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma will be eager to end the ODI tour on a high and inspire his troops to a dominating win, while the home team will want to continue their form from the last game and end with the series reading 2-3.
Player Recommendations:
Wicket-keeper: Dinesh Karthik (8 credits)
With uncertainty around Dhoni's participation in the match - he missed the last two ODIs due to injury, the safest option for this spot is Karthik, who was dismissed for a duck in the last game. However, the keeper has made it a habit of staying till the very end ever since his comeback into the national team, and ensured he got the job done in the third ODI, stitching together 38 runs at run-a-ball.
Batsman: Rohit Sharma (10.5 credits)
Rohit started the series on a dismal note, scoring only 11 runs but managed to make two fifties in the next two ODIs. However, he was unable to impress the last time around, scoring only seven off 23 balls, and was constantly beaten by Boult upfront. The skipper though is a dangerous player and has been responsible for handing the team with aggressive starts at the top. With a small ground - Martin Guptill scored a double hundred here four years ago - Rohit will be eager to seize his chances and end the series on a high.
All-rounder: James Neesham (9 credits)
Neesham was called back to the squad for the last two ODIs and ensured his name was on the wicket-taking list as he scalped Khaleel Ahmed's wicket that ended India's innings in the fourth game. The all-rounder marked a memorable comeback to international cricket against Sri Lanka earlier this year, as he pitched in with both bat and ball, picking up 6 wickets in three games and scoring 123 runs, including a 13-ball 47 that had five sixes in an over. For his ability to change the game in favour of his team at any point in the match, Neesham is my all-rounder in the Dream11 side.
Bowler: Trent Boult (9 credits)
Boult bowled a spell for the ages in the fourth ODI, sending down ten back-to-back overs to finish with 5 for 21, and forcing batsmen into submission with his nagging accuracy and consistency. In Virat Kohli's absence - MS Dhoni could miss the last game too - the middle order for India looks unsettled, and if the Kiwi bowlers can cut through the opening duo, Boult has enough firepower to run through the middle order again.
Captain: Rohit Sharma
Vice-captain: James Neesham
