Ind vs NZ, 3rd T20I: Bench strength in focus as hosts eye clean sweep

Having sealed the three-match T20I series against New Zealand, the Men in Blue will now be looking to register a series clean-sweep going into the third game of the series at the Eden Gardens on Sunday. But the opportunity is also there for the hosts to try out the bench strength in a dead rubber.

Eyes will be on the Eden Gardens, where BCCI President Sourav Ganguly will ring the bell to kickstart proceedings and it needs to be seen whether Rohit and management try out the bench strength.

In the second game of the series, the hosts registered a comprehensive win. All the departments came together to put on a complete show. After being under the pump, Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel conceded just 45 runs off 8 overs and this was a special effort looking at how heavy dew had set in.

Rohit and KL Rahul then put together a 100+ run opening stand, leaving New Zealand chasing the leather. Now heading into the third and final T20I, one needs to see whether Ruturaj Gaikwad gets a game in the opening slot.

For Ruturaj to get a game, one of Rahul or Rohit would need to be rested, and one needs to wait and watch whether Rahul Dravid and co decide to tinker with the winning combination.

Yuzvendra Chahal, Ishan Kishan and Avesh Khan would also hope to get one game as the three have warmed the bench in the first two matches of the series.

For New Zealand, it will be about playing for pride and finishing on a high after losing the first two games. While the calendar is hectic, losing the toss in both the games hasn't helped Tim Southee's team either.

India squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Venkatesh Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Avesh Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Harshal Patel and Mohd. Siraj.

New Zealand squad: Tim Southee (captain), Daryl Mitchell, Martin Guptill, Tim Seifert, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Jimmy Neesham, Kyle Jamieson, Todd Astle, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Adam Milne, Lockie Ferguson, and Trent Boult.