India vs New Zealand 2017: India's probable XI for 3rd T20I

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Steamrolled by the Colin Munro jamboree in the first innings, and managing a batting performance as messy as an engineering student’s hostel room, the Indian team were pulled out of the Nehraji farewell hangover, and tossed into the realities of the game’s most unpredictable format. 

The final game, at Thiruvananthapuram, stands between them and another trophy in Virat Kohli’s cabinet. After the drubbing at Rajkot, it won’t be easy, with the threat of rain completing a perfect love triangle.

Here is a probable list of 11 men who could be seen on the team sheet, if rain gods relent:

Shikhar Dhawan isn’t exactly the embodiment of consistency in T20Is, but his recent run of form in ODIs did enough to compel Kohli to shift himself down the order and let the Dhawan-Rohit partnership continue in the game’s shortest format too. 

In the first T20I, they showed why they’re such a hit in ODIs, compiling the highest stand for any wicket for India: while both took some time to settle, Dhawan managed to keep the scoreboard ticking, even while his opening partner slowly built on his start. 

Rohit Sharma can change gears effortlessly: while he played second fiddle to Dhawan in the initial part of India’s innings in the first game, he really let loose in the second half, showing how versatile his strokeplay can be when the need arises. He was undone by Trent Boult early in the second game, and might have to re-jig his approach against left-arm pacers, a species of bowlers that tend to trouble him early in the innings.

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