Dhoni's men determined to wrap up the series on a high

Joseph Hoover

Auckland, Mar 13 (PTI) With the series already in their
pocket, India may opt to rest some of their key players as
they go into the fifth and final one-dayer against a
demoralised New Zealand here Saturday, hoping to finish it off
on a winning note.

The Indians have already taken an invincible 3-0 lead in
the five match series and will be keen to try out their
reserve players for the inconsequential game at the Eden Park.

Sachin Tendulkar, who sat out of the last game because of
an abdomen injury, is likely to be rested for the match so
that he is fully fit for the Test series beginning March 18.

While things have gone favourably for the Indians, the
Kiwis have only pride to play for as they desperately need to
salvage a win to convince the home fans of their limited-overs
potential, especially after recording six consecutive series
wins at home.

However, India coach Gary Kirsten has already made it
clear that he is no mood to take the game lightly and would
like to carry forward the momentum of the ODI series to the
three upcoming Tests.

"It is important to maintain momentum and win games
of cricket. That might require us to use our best combination.
We also need to be mindful of the fact that it might be an
opportunity to rest one or two players. We just have to weigh
up what we want to do but we haven't decided yet," Kirsten
said.

India are set to make some changes in their playing
eleven and in all probability left-arm spinner Pragyan
Ojha and Irfan Pathan are likely to get a game before they
return home alongwith Yusuf Pathan, Praveen Kumar and Rohit
Sharma on Sunday.

While Irfan played in the Twenty20 series, which India
lost 0-2, Ojha so far has had little to do on this tour, other
than roll his arm over at the nets.

And this will come as an ideal opportunity for Ojha to
win the selectors' confidence. A poor show in the match would
provide the leeway for Ravindra Jadeja, who has the making of
a competitive all-rounder, to stake a claim for the second
spinner's slot in India's ODI scheme of things.

The Indian team management is also likely to give Zaheer
Khan, who did the bulk of the work in Ishant Sharma's
injury-forced absence during the ODIs, a break before the Test
series and draft in Irfan in his place.

Tendulkar's participation in the final ODI also
looks doubtful as the team management is in no mood to
aggravate his his abdomen injury ahead of the Test series. The
batting maestro also missed the fourth ODI in Hamilton after
suffering the injury during his majestic knock of 163 in
Christchurch.

"We are not sure yet. We will have to wait and see,"
said Kirsten.

If Tendulkar is rested, India will go in with Virender
Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir at the top of the order. And if the
Delhi-twosome, who were involved in a rollicking 201-run
partnership for the first wicket at the Hamilton on Wednesday,
maintain their momentum, India should complete a Kiwi sweep,
similar to the 5-0 drubbing they gave England last season.

It will be interesting to see how many balls disappear in
Saturday's day-night affair at the small but petite Eden Park
ground, whose square boundaries are a lot shorter than
Christchurch, where a record number of sixes were blasted in
the Twenty20 (24) and one-day (31) match of the series.

There is also a possibility of Sehwag, who has been
in the form of his life, to score a double hundred, something
that he spoke about after his 60-ball hundred in the last
match.

The Kiwis would be eyeing a consolation win to boost
their morale ahead of the Test series and skipper Daniel
Vettori is determined to avoid a 4-0 drubbing in front of the
home crowds.

"We need to play at our best to avoid a 4-0 drubbing in
front of our public and fans," said Vettori.

But considering the form of Indian batsmen, Vettori's men
will have to produce something extraordinary to stop the
marauding Indian gladiators from completing a series rout. PTI
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