IND NZ 3rd ODI: IND vs NZ LIVE: Tom Latham vs India: India head to Hagley Oval with a point to prove. India haven’t won their last 4 games in NewZealand. But it’s Tom Latham who Shikhar Dhawan & Co must beware of. Latham has two ODI centuries and two Test centuries at Hagley Oval. He also single-handedly killed India’s chances in the first ODI with an unbeaten 145-run knock. With India on a losing streak against NZ, VVS Laxman will be mindful of Latham threat. Follow India vs NewZealand LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Tom Latham at Hagley Oval:
| Tom Latham at Hagley Oval | |||||
| Format | Matches | Runs | Century | FIFTY | Avg |
| Test | 11 | 880 | 2 | 4 | 48.88 |
| ODI | 10 | 366 | 2 | 0 | 52.28 |
IND NZ 3rd ODI: Shikhar Dhawan & Co MUST BEWARE of Tom Latham at Hagley Oval, Kiwi opener’s devastating record puts India on backfoot, Check OUT
However, it’s not just the particular venue. Tom Latham has enjoyed a great record against India in ODIs. In 19 matches, Latham has scored 846 runs at an average of 65.07. He has also maintained an excellent strike rate against India with 98.94.
In the 1st ODI, he blew India away. With 145 off 104 balls, he led NZ to a 7-wicket win in Auckland. His knock had 19 4s and 5 sixes. The same could be the case on Wednesday. In the only Test he has played against India at the venue, he returned with twin half-centuries to help NewZealand win by 7 wickets in 2020.
Meanwhile for India, they are stuck with the same dilemma — Sanju Samson or Deepak Hooda. Shikhar Dhawan and VVS Laxman have no reasons to change the combination after a washout on Sunday. Hence, once again, Sanju Samson will be the one on the bench. As India push for more all-rounders in Playing XI, Samson is the scapegoat. Deepak Hooda, who replaced Samson in Hamilton, will retain his place in the Playing XI in Christchurch.
Much like Manish Pandey in the past, Sanju Samson has been a part of the musical chair contest in Indian team. He is in and out of the Playing XI and often the squad. He is not part of the squad for Bangladesh ODIs. And a chance to make it to the Playing XI looks difficult. As long as Rishabh Pant is there in the squad.
IND NZ 3rd ODI: Shikhar Dhawan & Co MUST BEWARE of Tom Latham at Hagley Oval, Kiwi opener’s devastating record puts India on backfoot, Check OUT
Why is Sanju Samson being ignored?
- Even though it looks like injustice, it has nothing to do with it.
- Despite good batting numbers, he remains a one-dimensional player if Rishabh plays.
- The only way he can make it to the XI is at the expense of Pant.
- But the team management has kept in Pant for far too long despite his inconsistencies.
- By the virtue of being the vice-captain of the series.
- As the team management wants to try out more all-rounders, Samson gets the chopping.
- It’s not that India do not have one-dimensional players. It’s the reason why Samson gets the boot every time.
- Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumra Yadav are all one-dimensional.
- As Dhawan, Gill, Iyer and SKY are integral part of India’s second-string squad, Samson misses out.
- Hooda being the all-rounder and a sixth bowling option gets the nod.
- In 3rd ODI, unless Laxman benches Iyer or SKY, Samson is set to spend his time on the sidelines.
India Squad: Shikhar Dhawan (C), Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Shahbaz Ahmed, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Deepak Chahar, Kuldeep Sen, Umran Malik
NZ Squad: Kane Williamson (c), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Adam Milne, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee
IND NZ 3rd ODI: Shikhar Dhawan & Co MUST BEWARE of Tom Latham at Hagley Oval, Kiwi opener’s devastating record puts India on backfoot, Check OUT
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