India Confident of Squaring ODI Series Against New Zealand

Hamilton: India are confident they can win their two remaining one-day internationals in New Zealand to salvage a draw from a series they were expected to dominate.

Although a series win is out of reach for India, who trail 2-0, spinner Ravi Ashwin said the dramatic tie in the third match in Auckland showed the tide is turning for the tourists, who have slipped to number two in the rankings.

New Zealand were denied a series-clinching victory on Saturday when a late flourish by Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja produced a cliffhanger finish, with India scoring 17 off the last over.

Coming into the series, India held the number one ranking and they were strongly favoured to beat the home side.

Instead, they extended a losing streak that began with back-to-back defeats in South Africa, losing their first game in New Zealand by 24 runs and the second by 15.

In Auckland, India again looked down and out when they were 184-6 chasing New Zealand's 314.

But Ashwin (65 off 46 balls) and Jadeja (66 not out off 45) put on 85 for the seventh wicket in a partnership that revived India's hopes.

India are likely to retain the XI that tied the Auckland ODI. Suresh Raina is feeling good about his sore elbow.

New Zealand have been plagued in recent years by an inability to close out series when they have had the upper hand early on, but felt the tide had turned when they beat the West Indies in two Twenty20 matches before India's arrival.

However, the nagging doubts returned in Auckland when captain Brendon McCullum admitted it was "potentially" one that got away.

It will be interesting to see if New Zealand go back to Kyle Mils on the slower Seddon Park pitch after Hamish Bennett's showing at Eden Park. It's unlikely Correy Anderson will be rested yet with the series still alive.

Teams from

New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Jesse Ryder, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum (Capt.), Corey Anderson, Luke Ronchi (wk), Tim Southee, Nathan McCullum, Hamish Bennett, Mitchell McClenaghan, Kyle Mills and Jimmy Neesham

India: MS Dhoni (Capt. & wk), Varun Aaron, Ravichandran Ashwin, Stuart Binny, Shikhar Dhawan, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Amit Mishra, Mohammed Shami, Ishwar Pandey, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Ambhati Rayudu, Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma

Pitch and conditions
The basic nature of the Hamilton surface is unlikely to change. There has been rain around, but it is unlikely to be a threat to the match.

Stats and trivia

• New Zealand have never lost a home ODI after posting 300 batting first.
• The last 20 times that India have won the toss outside Asia, they have chosen to bowl.

Match facts
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Start time 1400 local (0100 GMT)