Ketan Joshi, Wellington: After facing an eight-wicket defeat in the fouth ODI against the host New Zealand, India are ready to play the fifth and the final ODI in windy Wellington.
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However, India already wrapped up the series as the won the first three ODIs. Men in blue will look to end the series in a wining note as they will play only six ODIs ahead of World Cup. Mahendra Singh Dhoni set to return in the final ODI after being rested for injury in the third and fourth ODI.
Rohit and Dhawan will start the innings. Further responsibility will be on the shoulders of Shubman Gill as the men in blue will miss their skipper Virat Kohli. Though Gil failed to make any mark in his debut but he would like to score big in the fifth ODI. Dhoni was not fully fit for the fourth match, but he will return to the fifth match and he will replace Dinesh Karthik.
The bowlers had a very little to do in the fourth ODI but Bhuvneshwar Kumar took two wickets in the last match but Khalil Ahmed got the chance to bowl only three overs. So Khalil Ahmed will remain in the fifth ODI.
On other side Colin Munro is set to get a second chance at the top of the order for the Black Caps after Martin Guptill suffered a back injury in training this afternoon. Guptill aggravated his lower back while fielding during training, leaving him unlikely to play in the final ODI against India in Wellington tomorrow afternoon. Jimmy Neesham, had a spring in his step as returned ‘home’ to Wellington for a fifth ODI since being recalled. The rejuvenated all-rounder looks a likely World Cup selection after some stellar form with bat and ball against Sri Lanka, not that he’s clutching at his passport just yet.
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