IND vs NZ: Predicted India playing XI for the third T20I vs New Zealand

The third T20I between India and New Zealand is set to take place at Hnry Stadium, Wellington on October 27. This will be a do-or-die contest for the hosts as they have lost the first two matches of the series. Victory in the next match will guarantee a series win for the Men in Blue, making the final two fixtures dead rubbers. 

In both games so far, Team India pulled off victories from difficult situations. The lower middle order held their nerves both times to get the team across the line. Even in the second game, Team India slipped to 70 for 5 while chasing 181. But Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir and Nitish Kumar Reddy played brilliantly to seal the victory.

It is almost certain that the Indian team management is poised to field an unchanged line-up for the upcoming cricket match, signaling strong backing for their struggling bowling unit. Bhuvneshwar Kumar remains under the spotlight after leaking 49/0 and 50/1 in the first two T20Is, yet the team leadership is determined to back this veteran pacer in the next match. 

Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma will open the innings, while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will bat at 3. After this, Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, and Axar Patel will bat. In the last game, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi replaced Ishan Kishan in the playing XI after Ishan Kishan was ruled out due to injury. He batted at 3, but scored only 4 runs off 8 balls. He was struggling throughout the innings. With Ishan Kishan still sidelined in the third T20I, Vaibhav will get another chance — all eyes will be on whether the team management lets him open or keeps him at number three after his tough outing last time.  

Naman Dhir and Nitish Kumar Reddy will feature in the lower-middle order and aim to deliver a powerful finish. Naman Dhir and Axar Patel also provide spin bowling. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, and Prince Yadav will be the 3 frontline pace bowling options, along with seam-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy. While Team India’s batting unit anchors their back-to-back victories, the bowling unit will be looking to step up and deliver a powerful performance in the third T20I.

Predicted India playing XI for the third T20I

Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson ©, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav