India lead New Zealand 2-0: what the rain-hit third ODI in Hamilton means for the series

India can win the ODI series in New Zealand on Tuesday. They lead the five-match contest 2-0 after beating New Zealand by four runs under the DLS method in a rain-hit second ODI in Wellington, and the third match is at Seddon Park in Hamilton. It is the match most people searching for new zealand vs india want to know about, and the weather is already part of the story, with forecasts of more rain around the ground.

Where does the series stand after two ODIs?

India won the opener in Auckland by five wickets and then edged Wellington. In the second ODI, New Zealand were bowled out for 134 in 41 overs, with Daryl Mitchell top-scoring on 55. India were 113-7 when rain stopped play, four runs ahead of the DLS par score of 109.

The bowling depth is the real story of the tour so far. Three different India bowlers have taken wickets in clusters, and New Zealand's batters have struggled to build partnerships in seaming conditions. Only the 59-run sixth-wicket stand between Mitchell and Santner, noted by the ICC, stood out in the whole innings, which tells you how hard the new-ball period has been for the hosts.

It was closer than the scoreline suggests. A Gulf News report described a win that owed more to survival than control, with the batters nearly undoing good bowling.

Who made the difference for India?

Gurnoor Brar took 4-30 in ten overs, a career-best ODI return, and was named player of the match. He removed Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner and Nathan Smith, according to The Hindu and ICC coverage. Auqib Nabi took his first two international wickets and Anshul Kamboj and Axar Patel also took two each.

India's top order is the worry. Jacob Duffy dismissed Shubman Gill for a golden duck and Virat Kohli for 7, while Kyle Jamieson removed Shreyas Iyer for 30, per Al Jazeera. KL Rahul finished on 26 not out.

What will the weather and conditions do in Hamilton?

Rediff's preview expects cold, wet conditions that favour seam movement and bounce, and another possible rain-shortened game. Short games reward the side that adapts quickest to DLS targets, which is exactly how Wellington was decided.

What is the team news?

Rediff reports New Zealand are without Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra, and that Blair Tickner is out with concussion, with Kristian Clarke called up. It also says Rohit Sharma has scored 0 and 23 in the first two ODIs and that Mohammed Siraj is unlikely to play. Selection details can change at the toss, so check the official team sheets from NZ Cricket and the ICC before relying on any line-up.

What happens if India win?

A win clinches the five-match series with two games still to play. If New Zealand win, the contest is alive at 2-1 with two matches left, and the home side's pressure on India's fragile top order grows. We will update as the match develops.