India will be looking to become the first team in international cricket to sweep a five-match T20 series when they take on New Zealand in the final match in Mount Maunganui on Sunday.
India won the fourth match in Wellington after a super over finish, which handed them a 4-0 lead. Incidentally, it was the second successive match between the two teams that was tied at the end of 20 overs and had to be decided by a super over.
If they manage to win on Sunday, Virat Kohli's team will become the first to win a bilateral T20 series 5-0; although it must be noted that five-match T20 series are rare in international cricket and especially among top nations.
The Kiwis will be especially heartbroken as they had the match in the bag in the past two games, failing to achieve simple targets of nine runs and seven runs in the last over.
The hosts are already without main bowlers Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry. Captain Kane Williamson missed the last game due to a shoulder injury. With the series already lost, the Blackcaps might decide to give Williamson more time to recover.
India too will be looking to make some changes to their playing XI. Rohit Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Ravindra Jadeja were rested for the last game and at least one of them should be back.
Captain Kohli might decide to take a break and hand over the captaincy to Sharma. In that case, wicketkeeper batsman Rishabh Pant might get a look-in.
Until December, Pant was seen as an important member of India's limited overs set-up with captain and coach defending him on a number of occasions. However, after Pant suffered concussion while batting in the home ODI series against Australia early last month, KL Rahul excelled as a wicketkeeper batsman and that has kept the youngster sidelined.
However, India can now afford to bring in Pant, while resting Rahul, and give him complete freedom to get back to his best.
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India win series after super over thriller
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India’s Rohit Sharma, centre, with teammates after hitting the last ball for a six in the super over against New Zealand in the Hamilton T20 seal series victory on Wednesday. AFP -
Rohit Sharma hit the last two balls of the super over for sixes to secure victory in the super over against New Zealand in the Hamilton T20. Getty Images -
Virat Kohli celebrates the wicket of Ross Taylor of New Zealand that sent the Hamilton T20 into super over at Seddon Park on Wednesday. Getty Images -
New Zealand’s Colin Munro after getting stumped during the third T20 against India at Seddon Park in Hamilton. AFP -
Kane Williamson almost secured victory for New Zealand with his knock of 95. Getty Images -
Kane Williamson survives a stumping attempt from KL Rahul in Hamilton. Getty Images -
India’s Jasprit Bumrah had a poor day with the ball during the third T20 at Seddon Park. AFP -
Ravindra Jadeja, centre, and Shreyas Iyer celebrate the wicket of New Zealand’s Colin Munro. AFP -
Kane Williamson led a one-man batting charge for New Zealand in Hamilton. Getty Images) -
Rohit Sharma during the T20 against New Zealand in Hamilton on Wednesday. AP -
Rohit Sharma scored a fifty in the first innings and secured victory in the super over at Seddon Park in Hamilton. AFP -
Shreyas Iyer of India is stumped by Tim Seifert in Hamilton. Getty Images -
New Zealand’s Tim Southee takes the catch to dismiss Rohit Sharma. AFP
