New Delhi : India finds itself immersed in the festive season at the moment, having celebrated Karva Chauth on Wednesday, and the week-long Diwali festivities coming up next week.
The Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led ODI team would like to do their best to add to the festive cheer, giving the billion-plus fans another reason to celebrate, when they take on New Zealand at the Feroze Shah Kotla in New Delhi on Thursday.
Momentum is clearly in the hosts’ favour, having whitewashed the Kiwis in the three-Test series before producing another clinical all-round performance in the first ODI to win by six wickets.
The important aspect in those results is the toss: The Kiwis have lost every single toss in the series thus far, and if captain Kane Williamson doesn’t manage to call it right on Thursday, the match could well be over as a contest even before it officially starts.
The October weather promises plenty of dew in the evening, and Dhoni, if he wins the toss, is likely to opt to field first again. It could well be a death knell for the hapless and luckless Kiwis.
The only team news coming from India’s camp is that Suresh Raina has failed to clear a fitness test and is yet to recover from a bout of viral fever. This despite him walking to the nets on Tuesday for a session.