India made a clear statement in the series-deciding ODI against New Zealand on Sunday, bringing back Arshdeep Singh into the playing XI after two matches on the sidelines. Captain Shubman Gill won the toss at the Holkar Stadium in Indore and chose to bowl first, citing better chasing conditions and lessons learned from earlier games.
The left-arm pacer replaced Prasidh Krishna, marking a return that had been widely anticipated following criticism from former players and fans over his omission.
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Gill explains the call at the toss
Speaking after winning the toss, Gill said the decision to bowl was driven by match conditions and tactical clarity. He pointed out that the surface looked good for batting later in the evening and that India wanted to manage the middle overs better than in previous games.
Gill confirmed there was just one change to the XI, with Arshdeep coming in to add variety and control to the pace attack.
Why Arshdeep’s return matters
Arshdeep’s absence in the first two ODIs had sparked a strong reaction, especially after India opted to bowl first in the opener. Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin publicly questioned the decision, stressing the importance of continuity and confidence for fast bowlers.
Ashwin argued that Arshdeep had delivered whenever he was trusted and deserved a settled role rather than uncertainty. The comments struck a chord, adding pressure on the team management ahead of the decider.
Tactical boost against New Zealand
From a cricketing point of view, Arshdeep’s inclusion gives India a different edge against New Zealand’s largely right-handed batting line-up. His ability to swing the new ball, attack the stumps early, and nail yorkers at the death adds balance to the attack alongside Mohammed Siraj, who himself returned to ODI action after missing the Australia series last year.
On a flat Indore pitch, India are expected to rely more on pace variations, hard lengths, and wide yorkers rather than extended spells of spin. That approach could also ease the workload on spinners in the middle and death overs.
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IND vs NZ: Playing XIs
India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj
New Zealand: Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Hay (wk), Michael Bracewell (c), Zakary Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Kristian Clarke, Jayden Lennox
With the series on the line, Arshdeep’s comeback is more than just a team change—it’s a moment that reflects how selection calls, confidence, and conditions all collide in a high-pressure decider.
