India lead New Zealand 2-0 in their rain-affected five-match ODI series but the weather forecast is brighter for Friday's fourth ODI in Mount Maunganui.
India won the first two matches on the DLS method before game three in Hamilton was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
Both teams are resting players for the fourth and fifth ODIs as they prepare for this month's two-Test series.
New Zealand have released five players, including key batsmen Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips and Tom Latham, and Ishan Kishan is expected to replace captain Shubman Gill at the top of the order for India.
Match Prediction
India to win @ 8/11
India emerged victorious in rain-reduced contests in the first and second ODIs and they should be backed to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series.
New Zealand pride themselves on making the most of their small pool of talent but their resources are massively stretched.
Key batsmen Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra are injured while Daryl Mitchell, player of the series in January's 2-1 ODI series win in India, has been rested for the last two games.
That leaves the hosts with a second-string top order and they could be overpowered by India in the best batting conditions of the series.
Fast bowlers dominated the first two matches but the weather is set fair in Mount Maunganui, where India have won two of their last three ODIs.
Best Bet
Rohit Sharma to be India top batter @ 9/2
India opener Rohit Sharma has fond memories of Mount Maunganui, where he scored 87 and 62 on his previous two ODI visits.
Rohit, like most batsmen, had a tough time in the first two games of this series but he is an eye-catching price to top-score for India on Friday.
The veteran was dismissed for a duck in the series opener before hitting two fours and two sixes in a knock of 23 in Wellington.
Conditions should be more conducive to runscoring at Bay Oval and Rohit remains a force to be reckoned with in 50-over cricket.
He scored 138 off 110 balls against England in July's series decider at Lord's and followed up with 32, 101 and 92 in September's home series against the West Indies.
This time last year, Rohit cracked 73 and 121 not out against Australia in Adelaide and Sydney and he can provide a reminder of his 50-over quality in the fourth ODI.
Player Tips
Anshul Kamboj has joined up with India's Test squad but fellow fast bowler Gurnoor Brar is available for the last two ODIs.
The two pacemen claimed the player-of-the-match awards in India's wins in Auckland and Wellington and Brar is a good Bet Builder selection at 10/11 to take over 1.5 wickets.
His use of the short ball has been excellent in this series, helping him record figures of 3-44 and 4-30, and he should trouble a depleted New Zealand batting unit.
One of the batters called up by the hosts is Nick Kelly, who had a successful spell with Leicestershire in the English summer.
But Kelly was dismissed for nine in his first two 50-over matches for Northern Districts and one of those games took place in Mount Maunganui.
The left-hander made three half-centuries in five innings in Bangladesh and the West Indies this year. However, Kelly was dismissed for 15, 31 and three in his only home ODI series against Pakistan and should be backed to score under 24.5 runs at 5/6.
New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell could have a big role to play with bat and ball and he looks a good bet to get over 41.5 performance points.
One point is awarded per run, ten per catch and 20 per wicket and spinner Bracewell picked up eight scalps in five ODIs in the Caribbean in July.
He is also a dangerous hitter in the middle order, as India know. His ODI career-best score of 140 came against them in Hyderabad in 2023 and he smashed 65 off just 25 balls in last month's T20I clash in Auckland.
Bet Builder
Gurnoor Brar over 1.5 wickets – 10/11
Nick Kelly under 24.5 runs – 5/6
Michael Bracewell over 41.5 performance points – 5/6
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
