India host New Zealand in the third Test match at Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on Saturday (8 October). The hosts lead the three-match series 2-0.

Where to watch live

Match starts at 5am BST. Live TV coverage is available on Sky Sports 5 and Sky Sports 5 HD. Click here for the live streaming link.

Overview

India's cricketing bandwagon moves towards Indore amid tensions between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Supreme Court over the Lodha committee recommendations.

While the situation does not look good off the field, on the field it is a different story with the hosts playing some impressive cricket and come into this game after thrashing New Zealand by 178 runs in the second Test at Kolkata.

The Indians have won the three-match series already and will be looking for a clean sweep. The win at the Eden Gardens made them the number one team in the ICC Test rankings. What has been impressive is that the whole team have performed with no reliance on one or two individuals as in the past.

gautam gambhir
Gautam Gambhir is set to make his first appearance in a Test match for India in two years Getty

The only concern will be the form of skipper Virat Kohli, who has endured a lean series so far, scoring just 81 runs in the two games. India will be without opener Shikhar Dhawan who injured his thumb in the last game and seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar who has a back strain. This means Gautam Gambhir will get a chance to play his first Test in two years. Umesh Yadav is also set to be included in the playing XI.

The visitors trail in the three match series 2-0, but have not played as badly as the score line suggests. While they have been beaten by the better Indian side, in Mitchell Santner, Tom Latham, Matt Henry, Neil Wagner and Luke Ronchi they have had players who have contributed in phases.

What the Kiwis have been lacking is a complete team performance with a number of their stars failing at crucial stages of the game. The form of Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor is a concern, with the experienced duo struggling to come to terms with the conditions on offer.

Regular skipper Kane Williamson, who missed the last Test, is set to return . And, that would mean that either Henry Nicholls or Martin Guptill misses out.

Prediction

India to win

Betting odds (betfair)

  • India to win: 1/2
  • Draw: 13/5
  • New Zealand to win: 6

Team News

India

Possible XI: Gautam Gambhir, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav.

New Zealand

Possible XI: Tom Latham, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, BJ Watling (wk), Matt Henry, Jeetan Patel, Trent Boult, Neil Wagner.

India New Zealand