The seven-wicket win at Mount Maunganui in the third ODI helped India register their second series win New Zealand in eight attempts, and now, the visitors are gunning for their biggest series win (across formats).
HISTORY BECKONS
A win in Hamilton will give India a 4-0 lead. In 2009, India won the five-match series 3-1. A similar result was achieved in Test in 1967-68, when India toured New Zealand for the first time for a four-match series.
India, however, suffered a 0-4 defeat in a five-match ODI series in their previous tour in 2014. Before that India lost series in 2002 (2-5), 1986 (0-2) and 1976 (0-2). There were also two drawn series in 1994 and 1999.
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So, history beckons for this seemingly unstoppable Indian side.
HITMAN TO LEAD
But India's victory march will see a change of guard on Thursday as rested Virat Kohli will be replaced by Rohit Sharma at the helm. The opener, with a penchant for hitting double hundreds, will be eager to make his 200th appearance for India a memorable one with a solid performance.
With the series already sealed, Rohit would aim to tighten the noose around an underfiring New Zealand side in what could be another batting friendly track at Seddon Park.
The 'Hitman' has a good record as stand-in captain and recently led successfully India to Asia Cup title defence in the United Arab Emirates and before that, won Nidahas Trophy in Sri Lanka while an overworked Kohli rejuvenates himself on the sidelines.
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The two remaining matches also give India an ideal platform to once again test the bench strength and give the younger men a feel of match situations.
DHONI INJURY
The status of Mahendra Singh Dhoni's hamstring injury is not known but according to team sources, there is nothing much to worry about. A decision on Dhoni's availability will be taken before the toss on Thursday.
In case Dhoni is available and the team management avoids tinkering with the combination, he will walk in as Virat Kohli's replacement. Kohli has been rested for the remainder of the tour.
ONE FOR THE FUTURE
However, if the visitors opt for a like-for-like replacement, then Indian fans could get a glimpse of the immensely talented Shubman Gill in the senior team jersey.
Billed as one for the future, many experts have found a striking similarity in the 19-year-old Gill's strokes with the ones that Kohli plays effortlessly.
"I wasn't even 10 per cent of what he (Shubman) is, when I was 19," Kohli had said after India's series win in Mount Maunganui.
Following Kohli's effusive praise, Shastri and Sharma might just give Gill a go and check if he can also be an option at No 4, where Ambati Rayudu has done a decent, if not spectacular, job so far.
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In case both Gill and Dhoni are included, Dinesh Karthik could well be rested.
BOWLING PROWESS
The bowling department also looks settled with Kuldeep Yadav (8 wickets in 3 games) and Yuzvendra Chahal (6 wickets in 3 games) accounting for 14 wickets so far in the series.
But Mohammed Shami, who has won back-to-back Man of the Match awards, could be given some rest as he has been playing non-stop since the start of the Australia Test series.
In case Shami is rested, Khaleel Ahmed or Mohammed Siraj could be given another chance to stake their claim for the reserve pacer's slot available in the World Cup squad.
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HAYWIRED HOSTS
For New Zealand, everything seems to have gone haywire since the start of the series and skipper Kane Williamson has agreed that they have been completely outplayed by India.
Their biggest problem has been the inability to read Kuldeep and Chahal, who have inflicted the maximum damage on the home team. Shami has also been pretty lethal in his first spell.
Williamson has got starts but has not been able to convert them with scores of 64, 20 and 28 so far.
Martin Guptill, an otherwise dangerous player, has also not been able to survive the new ball.
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Tom Latham and Ross Taylor have performed occasionally but none has been impactful consistently enough to change the complexion of the game.
In the bowling department, the incisive Trent Boult has lacked support and Lockie Ferguson is far from a finished product. His was considered a USP but has been his biggest weakness in the series.
Seamer Doug Bracewell and leg-spinner Ish Sodhi have also been mediocre, which makes the job of the 'Black Caps' tougher in the last two games.
With all-rounder Jimmy Neesham added to the squad, he could well feature in the playing XI as the home team seeks some consolation from the humiliation that they have encountered so far.
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Squads
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (wk), Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Shubman Gill, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohammed Siraj, Ravindra Jadeja.
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (c), Todd Astle, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (wk), Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, and Ross Taylor.
Match Starts at 7: 30 am (IST).
(With PTI inputs)
