The three-match ODI series will start at Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore. For the third and final ODIThe series is level at 1-1 after New Zealand’s spectacular win in Rajkot. This high-scoring venue is renowned for its flat track, lightning-fast outfield and short boundaries, promising a run-fest compared to the two-paced surface in previous games.
Historically, the ground is a batting paradise, with the average score in the first innings often exceeding 300, with India once posting a mammoth score of 418/5 here. The pitch is known to provide genuine bounce and consistent carry, making it one of the best surfaces in India for strokeplay. Although fast bowlers may get a little swing from the new ball initially, the small dimensions (square range around 65–70 metres) provide little protection for the bowlers once the batsmen have settled in.
India vs New Zealand, 3rd ODI: Indore Weather Forecast
According to AccuWeather, the match on Sunday, January 18, 2026 is expected to be played in pleasant winter conditions, with a maximum temperature of 27°C during the day and a minimum of 11°C during the night. As per the current forecasts, the sky will be clear, sunny and there is 0% chance of rain, which will not cause any hindrance in the series decider. The afternoon will be bright, but as the sun sets, a slight chill will develop, with humidity levels hovering around 52%.
India vs New Zealand, 3rd ODI: Dew factor
Indore’s January climate typically results in significant dew accumulation due to the sharp drop in temperature from day to evening. This dew is expected to be a major factor in the second innings, making the ball wet and extremely difficult for the bowlers, especially the spinners, to catch and control. The smooth ball will likely slide off the surface, allowing batsmen to hit it through the line easily on an already fast outfield, effectively neutralizing any lateral movement or turn.
Also read: India vs New Zealand: Pitch report for 3rd ODI, Holkar Cricket Stadium stats and records
India vs New Zealand, 3rd ODI: Toss Prediction
The captain will likely choose to bowl first after winning the toss for these key reasons:
- Benefits of dew: Heavy evening dew made defending a total difficult, as the bowlers struggled to maintain control of the wet ball during the second innings.
- Batting Heaven: The flat surface and short boundaries also make it easy to chase big targets, as was seen in previous high-scoring encounters at this venue.
- Small dimensions: The shape of the field favors the team batting at number two, as they can accurately pace the chase knowing that boundaries are easily accessible.
- Indore Statistics: Batting first has historically seen high scores, with the tactical advantage of chasing under lights with dew being the preferred modern strategy at this stadium.
Also read: 3 reasons why Shreyas Iyer is the right selection for the IND vs NZ T20I series
