Overview
- New Zealand’s win in Rajkot leveled the series 1–1, setting up the ODI decider on January 18 at Holkar Stadium in Indore.
- Ravichandran Ashwin condemned the decision to bench left‑arm pacer Arshdeep Singh for the first two ODIs, warning it hurts confidence, with reports suggesting he could be drafted in for the finale.
- Former selector Kris Srikkanth questioned Ravindra Jadeja’s place after lean returns and urged consideration of Axar Patel as the spinning all‑round option.
- Analyses flagged India’s middle‑overs and spin issues in Rajkot—Kuldeep Yadav was targeted—prompting a reassessment of the pace‑spin mix for a batter‑friendly ground with small boundaries.
- Team decisions have been framed as workload and long‑term planning toward future ICC events, drawing added scrutiny after India struggled to defend 285 in the second ODI.