The Indian team have been in dominant form as they won consecutive ODI series against Sri Lanka and now New Zealand. The Kiwis will be eager to avoid the whitewash and give a much better account of themselves than what they showed in Raipur in the 2nd ODI. However former Indian opener Aakash Chopra feels India will breach the 400 run mark if they get to bat first in the penultimate ODI against New Zealand.
The hosts scored 348 in the first ODI as Shubman Gill scored a massive double century while the second highest score in that innings was of 34 runs scored by Rohit Sharma. So if the Indian batters get their eye in they can surely rack up 400 runs.in the third ODI.
Chopra who was very disappointed by New Zealand’s application in batting in the second ODI feels it will be a big task for them to chase big if India bats first. The Kiwis got bundled out for 108 runs in the second ODI and will surely look to rectify that in the third match and salvage some pride.
“What can we expect from this match? The Indian team has already lived up to expectations. I won’t be surprised if India score 400 if they get to bat first, that’s what I feel. 200-225 runs are scored in T20s here,” Chopra shared on his Youtube video.
He believes that the Indian batters will make full use of the flat pitch, small ground and average bowling lineup of the opposition to score big runs. Chopra understands that there is no harm in taking advantage of favourable situations at the Holkar Stadium in Indore where the third ODI will be played.
“The opposition team is weak, the pitch is extremely flat and the ground is very small. So when such an opportunity comes, all batters say they should improve their records because an international match is an international match,” he opined.
The Indian team will look to hand some chances to younger players who are in the mix for the ODI squad but did not get their due in the first two games. Players like Umran Malik, Shahbaz Ahmed or even Rajat Patidar may get a game as it is already a dead rubber with the series already in India’s bag.
Rohit Sharma will be looking to try out some new strategies and that may also include seeing some new faces in the starting eleven or trying out different strategies that he may explore more as the matches come in ahead of the upcoming World Cup.
