After a fairly routine win in the Test series, India will be looking to exert their dominance over New Zealand in the limited overs format of the game when the two sides play out a five match ODI series over the next few weeks.
In fairness to New Zealand they put up a decent showing in the Tests and there was enough there to suggest they will be competitive in this series with the 50 over distance much more of a leveller for these two sides.
Schedule
1st ODI – 16 Oct at Dharamsala
2nd ODI – 20 Oct at Delhi
3rd ODI – 23 Oct at Mohali
4th ODI – 26 Oct at Ranchi
5th ODI – 29 Oct at Visakhapatnam
India
The 2011 world champions go into this series with just two wins in their last five bilateral series and one of them was in Zimbabwe so you would have to say this is a side whose form isn’t that which is in keeping with the talent they have at their disposal.
One of the reasons for that down the years has been their bowling attack which with an emphasis on pitches for batsmen is becoming cannon fodder more and more by the series. In Indian conditions they will need their spinners to stand up and be counted in what could well be a high scoring series.
New Zealand
In contrast to India, New Zealand have won five of their seven series since the World Cup losing to just England and South Africa by the odd match. They were finalists at the last World Cup which they co-hosted and they have taken that form with them everywhere they have been since.
This represents a tougher test than most purely because of the conditions they will face but they have shown good ability with the bat and they have plenty of variation with the ball. Importantly they have good depth at the death of the innings which could be a deciding factor.
Head to Head
These two have featured in 11 bilateral series down the years with India having a slight advantage. They have won five series to New Zealand’s four. They have also drawn on two occasions. India are much more dominant at home though. They have won all four series the two have played.
In match betting India have a huge advantage in this part of the world. They have won 21 of their 27 ODIs with New Zealand winning just five with a solitary no result. Past records suggest India will win the series but current form brings in an interesting dynamic.
Odds
India are around a 2/9 chance to win the series with New Zealand potentially being overpriced at 10/3. In the correct score betting India are 2/1 to win 3-2 and slightly bigger to win 4-1 with New Zealand 9/2 to win narrowly and 19/1 to win 4-1.
In the player markets Rohit Sharma is the 5/2 favourite to be the top India batsman with Virat Kohli slightly bigger at 11/4. It is 7/2 on Ajinkya Rahane and 7/1 bar those three. Amit Mishra is the 11/4 favourite to be the top India bowler over the five matches in the absence of Ravi Ashwin with not around for the early stages. Jasprit Bumrah is 3/1 and Akshar Patel is 7/2.
Kane Williamson is 13/5 to lead the New Zealand batting over the course of the series with Martin Guptill 7/2. Tom Latham and Ross Taylor are both 5/1 shots in that market. Trent Boult is 3/1 to be their top bowler with Matt Henry a 7/2 shot. Mitchell Santner is also 7/2 and Ish Sodhi is 4/1.
Betting
A lot of the prices in the series betting is about right so I’m not going to go too mad in terms of series bets but I will take one to keep us interested. I might well visit the outright market at some point along the way but for now I’ll go with one Indian in their batting market.
The person in question is Rohit Sharma who for me is one of the best players in the game in these conditions. He heads into the series with three half-centuries batting down the order in the Tests which recently concluded and now that he is up to open he will have the maximum time available at the crease with which to utilise.
Sharma has two centuries and a 99 in five ODI innings in 2016 and with two double centuries to his name in this format we know when he gets in he goes big. A couple of big efforts here should be enough to get him over the line.
Tips
Back R.Sharma Top India Series Batsman for a 3/10 stake at 3.50 with William Hill
Back him here:
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