Sport · India Bureau
Pujara expects India-New Zealand ODI series to end level amid squad rotation
Former India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has predicted the upcoming five-match ODI series against New Zealand will conclude in a 2-2 draw, citing the challenge posed by mid-series squad changes that will significantly alter India's composition in the final two matches.
LSN India ·
Pujara believes India's decision to rest captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain KL Rahul for the last two ODIs to prepare for the subsequent Test series will give New Zealand a tactical advantage in what should be an otherwise competitive contest.
The series, commencing Wednesday and concluding November 15, will see India fielding a different squad for the final two matches before the two-Test series begins on November 19. This mid-series transition has prompted Pujara's assessment that the visitors will operate at a disadvantage in the latter stages.
"Two-all. In the first three matches, one team is playing, and then in the last two matches, another Indian team is going to play," Pujara told JioStar. "New Zealand have a slight advantage because you aren't playing the same team in all five matches."
Despite these squad management concerns, Pujara expressed confidence in India's prospects during the opening three ODIs, suggesting the home side should perform well against the New Zealanders in that phase. However, he acknowledged that the final two matches present a more uncertain outlook.
Pujara also forecast that at least one match of the series will be affected by weather-related disruptions, a common occurrence during this period of the cricket calendar in India.