New Zealand Opt to Bowl Against India in 5th ODI; Series on the Line
While India won the first two rain-affected matches, the third ODI in Hamilton was washed out
Mount Maunganui [New Zealand]: New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and elected to field first against India in the fifth and final ODI of the series on Sunday at Bay Oval.
India currently leads the series 2-1. While India won the first two rain-affected matches, the third ODI in Hamilton was washed out. New Zealand bounced back in the fourth ODI with a dominant 244-run victory, powered by Matt Henry's six-wicket haul.
India will aim to secure a major overseas series victory, while New Zealand will look to level the series.
Speaking at the toss, Santner said, "We are going to bowl because of maybe some dew later on. (Matt) Henry and (Kyle) Jamieson is gone, Duff (Jacob Duffy) is back, so four seamers again. It is about building the depth."
India captain Shreyas Iyer said his team also wanted to bowl first. He welcomed the opportunity to bat first and expressed excitement over the debuts of Yash Thakur and Mohammed Siraj's return to the playing XI.
India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Auqib Nabi, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Yash Thakur.
New Zealand Playing XI: Will Young, Tim Seifert (wk), Nick Kelly, Dean Foxcroft, Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Kristian Clarke, Blair Tickner, Jacob Duffy, Matthew Fisher.