Like in previous tour in 2016, Kohli & Co will look to deny Kiwis chance to create history
For the first time in the recent past, India stare at a situation where a series is equally poised and the opponents have the confidence to overcome history and conditions to win their first ever ODI series in India.
But as the cliché goes, there is many a slip between the cup and the lip. Playing the third ODI here at the Green Park stadium on Sunday locked 1-1, the Black Caps will not only have to overcome the Indian resistance in order to win their first ODI series in India in six attempts, but will also need to counter smog and air pollution in one of India's most polluted city.
Ever since losing 0-4 to India in their maiden bilateral ODI series back in 1988-89, New Zealand have only once come close to winning the series, losing 2-3 in 2016. It was exactly a year ago in Vizag when the Kiwis capitulated for a mere 79 while chasing India's 270 in the decider.
As they prepare to battle in the decider in this short three-match ODI series, the memories of that 2016 series will either galvanise or haunt the visitors.
On the other hand, Virat Kohli and Co will look to extend their impressive record in bilateral series at home. India have won eight of the last nine bilateral series in their den, with the only loss coming against South Africa in 2015-16, when they went down 2-3.
Despite going down to Kane Williamson's team dramatically in the opener in Mumbai, the Indians made a solid comeback by restricting the visitors in Pune to level the series.
And though Kanpur's surface looks like one with a tinge of green, history suggests that the team which has batted first and scored more than a run-a-ball has posted victories here.
The onus will this be on the two Kiwi openers – Martin Guptill and Colin Munro – to try and negate the new ball threat for their solid middle-order to cash in. In Mumbai, it was a key 48-run partnership between the two that laid the foundation of the 200-run stand between Ross Taylor and Tom Latham.
While in Pune, when they collapsed to leave New Zealand at 27/3 after seven overs, there was no steam left in the remaining batters to set anywhere close to a challenging target for the hosts.
India will again depend on Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah to come good early on and in the death overs. Yuzvendra Chahal bowled well in the last game despite failing to pick up any wicket in Mumbai, while the inclusion of chinaman Kuldeep Yadav in place of Axar Patel looks to be on the cards in his hometown.
As for the batting, Kohli will have fewer headaches about his middle-order after watching Dinesh Karthik score 64 at the No. 4 position in the last tie.
This has been a spot where Team India has been failing for quite some time now, with the hosts having tried as many as 11 players at the No. 4 spot since the 2015 World Cup.
Karthik's inclusion could also put pressure on the struggling MS Dhoni to come good as a finisher. Opener Shikhar Dhawan getting a fifty under his belt is also good news, but his partner Rohit Sharma still has to find form in this series after scoring just seven and 20 in two games so far.
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