India can seal the five-match ODI series against New Zealand on Tuesday 10 November 2026 if they win the third ODI at Seddon Park in Hamilton. The match starts at 3 pm New Zealand time, which is 7.30 am IST, according to Yahoo Sports' live blog. India lead 2-0 after winning the first ODI by five wickets and the second by four runs on the DLS method.
The situation
Rediff's preview says New Zealand are in must-win territory and are short of players. Devon Conway is out of the series with a concussion, and Rachin Ravindra is also reported to be injured. Blair Tickner failed a concussion check after being hit on the helmet in the second ODI, and Matt Fisher replaced him. Mitchell Santner is expected to lead the hosts, Cricbuzz indicates.
India's batters have not found it easy. Rediff notes that apart from Virat Kohli's knock at Eden Park in the first ODI, none of the top order has looked comfortable. Rohit Sharma scored 0 and 23 in the first two games and his form is under scrutiny. Cricbuzz describes the series as a throwback of attritional cricket with Powerplays at around four runs an over, helped by damp surfaces, and says India's young pace attack, with Gurnoor Brar in form, has tested New Zealand's top order. Rediff adds that India's decision to send Axar Patel ahead of KL Rahul at No. 5 is being questioned.
Weather and pitch
Both previews expect trouble. Rediff says the game could again be shortened by rain, with cold, wet conditions turning the pitch into a paradise for seam and bounce. Cricbuzz calls Hamilton "gloomy" and expects another batting grind. Both ODIs so far have been affected by weather. Readers planning to watch should expect delays and be ready for a reduced-overs result.
Captaincy and squad changes
Shubman Gill will lead India in the third ODI, then shift to Test preparation. Rediff reports Shreyas Iyer will captain the last two ODIs in Tauranga, on 13 and 15 November. India Today adds that several Test players, including Gill, KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, Anshul Kamboj and Kuldeep Yadav, are not part of the final two ODIs and are expected to join the Test camp in Wellington.
The coaching split
According to India Today, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak and bowling coach Morne Morkel will leave the ODI camp after this match to prepare for the Test series, which begins on 19 November. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule are expected to stay with the ODI squad. Kotak said at a press conference in Hamilton that the plan could change, since Gambhir has the final say. Bowlers Gurnoor Brar, Auqib Nabi and Arshdeep Singh are likely to stay back as net bowlers and reserves for the Tests.
What it means
India are closing out a tightly packed tour: the ODIs end on 15 November, only four days before the first Test. A win on Tuesday would give them the ODI series with two games to spare and let the squad focus on red-ball cricket. A New Zealand win would keep the series alive at 2-1.
What next
Watch the toss and the weather at Hamilton on Tuesday morning. Check live scores on the official broadcasters or apps; the sources we reviewed do not agree on a single broadcaster, so we have not listed one.
