Top 10 funny memes ahead of series-deciding 3rd T20I between India and New Zealand

Team India and New Zealand will square off in the third and final T20I of the ongoing series tonight (February 1) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The three-match series is evenly poised, with both teams winning one match each going into this contest.

Indian captain Hardik Pandya won the toss and chose to bat first on Wednesday night. Umran Malik replaced Yuzvendra Chahal in Team India's playing XI. Chahal bowled phenomenally in the previous match and will be highly disappointed to sit out of this game. New Zealand have brought in Ben Lister for Jacob Duffy.

Here are the playing XIs:

India XI: Ishan Kishan(w), Shubman Gill, Rahul Tripathi, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya(c), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Shivam Mavi, Kuldeep Yadav, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh

New Zealand XI: Finn Allen, Devon Conway(w), Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner(c), Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Ben Lister, Blair Tickner

Fans observed the team composition of Men in Blue ahead of the match and expressed their reactions on social media platforms through memes.

They were disappointed with the team management for not giving a chance to Prithvi Shaw even after the repeated failures of Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill in the opening role.

Here is a collection of the best reactions:

Prasun Jha

@jprasun21

@mufaddal_vohra Prithvi Shaw be like

10

@mufaddal_vohra Prithvi Shaw be like https://t.co/9JQCll0EPf

Prasun Jha

@jprasun21

@CricCrazyJohns Prithvi Shaw to ICT management

10

1

@CricCrazyJohns Prithvi Shaw to ICT management https://t.co/0FufzBwjV0

spursy_abhay

@abhi__7781

@mufaddal_vohra Ruturaj and prithvi shaw to shubman and ishan 🙂

5

@mufaddal_vohra Ruturaj and prithvi shaw to shubman and ishan 🙂 https://t.co/2uicxvV2NS

Arun Singh

@ArunTuThikHoGya

@mufaddal_vohra Shaw in this series

23

@mufaddal_vohra Shaw in this series https://t.co/82tg7DJ5gI

भाई साहब

@Bhai_saheb

@mufaddal_vohra Prithvi shaw to hardik

19

@mufaddal_vohra Prithvi shaw to hardik https://t.co/sQkSJOHO48

Ctrl C Ctrl Memes

@Ctrlmemes_

Reusable meme, Prithvi Shaw stay strong brother #IndvsNz #IndvNZ

7

Reusable meme, Prithvi Shaw stay strong brother #IndvsNz #IndvNZ https://t.co/2h9nu4dRWz

ANSH.

@KohliPeak

Prithvi shaw to hardik pandya :

5

2

Prithvi shaw to hardik pandya : https://t.co/drPxPEDuKQ

A

@AppeFizzz

Prithvi Shaw fans when they dont see him in playing 11

25

8

Prithvi Shaw fans when they dont see him in playing 11 https://t.co/EkIXsQWzlQ

Rakesh

@h43825042

@mufaddal_vohra 200+ target will not be safe.. When these 2 bowls like as they usually do

@mufaddal_vohra 200+ target will not be safe.. When these 2 bowls like as they usually do https://t.co/i6lTl4y6Gi

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"Winning and losing happens but these knockout games teach you a lot" - Team India captain Hardik Pandya

Speaking after winning the toss, Hardik Pandya emphasized the importance of playing in pressure matches and felt it would give the team some much-needed experience moving forward.

Pandya also explained the rationale behind his decision to bat first by pointing out his experience of playing in the IPL final at the venue last year. He said:

"It looks like a very good wicket. When we played the IPL final here, the ball did much more in the second innings. Keeping that in mind, we wanted to bat first. The approach they are showing is giving us a lot of confidence.

"They were difficult tracks and all the batters' eyes have lit up looking at this surface. These are the games we strive for, we've spoken about this. Winning and losing happens but these knockout games teach you a lot."

Do you think Prithvi Shaw deserved a chance in playing XI in this match? Sound off in the comments section.

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