INDIA EYE FIRST EVER T20 SERIES WIN IN NZ
The T20 series is currently locked at 1-1 with the hosts winning the first one convincingly as India pay back in the same coin in the last game.
The Indian team, led by Rohit Sharma, will be aiming to become the first side to win a T20 International series in New Zealand when the two sides clash in the final match here on Sunday.
It has been a season of records for the Men in Blue who won their first Test and bilateral ODI series in Australia followed by the biggest one-day series win in New Zealand.
The T20I series is currently locked at 1-1 with the hosts winning the first one convincingly and India returning the favour in style in the last game.
India had a nightmare in the same venue during the fourth ODI where they were skittled out for 92 in the wake of some quality swing bowling from Trent Boult.
India are expected to remain unchanged from the first two games.
In the first T20, Kiwis› Tim Seifert gave the Indian bowlers a hard time but they came back strongly in the second tie.
Krunal Pandya has once again punched above his weight with some gritty performances in the two games.
Khaleel Ahmed also took wickets and would look to fire again on Sunday. Skipper Rohit led with the bat in the game and became the world›s top run-getter in T20IS.
The Indian middle-order has also shown solidity with the experience of M.S. Dhoni and the exuberance of Rishabh Pant combining well as was evident in Auckland.
For the hosts, they would look to draw inspiration from their first game and bat better.
Skipper Kane Williamson has endured a lean patch by his standards and veteran Ross Taylor has also blown hot and cold during the last three weeks.
Squads: India:
Rohit Sharma(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav, M.S. Dhoni, Krunal Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddarth Kaul, Khaleel Ahmed, Shubman Gill, Vijay Shankar, Hardik Pandya, Mohammad Siraj.
New Zealand:
Kane Williamson(c), Doug Bracewell, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Scott Kuggeleijn, Colin Munro, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner, James Neesham.
IANS LOS ANGELES: Former England captain David Beckham will become the first Major League Soccer player honoured with a statue, which will be unveiled outside LA Galaxy’s stadium prior to their season opener on March 2, the team said on Friday. In 2007, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder became the first big European name to join the MLS, where he won back-to-back championships in 2011 and 2012 during his six years and 98 appearances with the Galaxy. Beckham’s MLS stint helped give the American league credibility and paved the way for other top European players to make the leap in subsequent years. The 43-year-old is currently the owner of expansion side Inter Miami CF, which is set to join the MLS in 2020.