NZ opener doubtful for the 5th ODI vs India

New Zealand opening batsman Martin Guptill is doubtful for the fifth ODI versus India due to a lower back injury. The right-hand batsman will be replaced by Colin Munro who featured in the first three ODIs in this series.

Guptill out, Munro in

New Zealand Cricket gave an update on Martin Guptill’s injury through a tweet. It said that the opening batsman is in doubt for tomorrow’s fifth ODI against India after aggravating his lower back while fielding this afternoon.

It further stated that he has been assessed by team physio Vijay Vallabh & will be reassessed tomorrow morning. Colin Munro will rejoin the ODI squad tomorrow morning.

Martin Guptill is in doubt for tomorrow’s fifth ODI against India after aggravating his lower back while fielding this afternoon. He's been assessed by team physio Vijay Vallabh & will be reassessed tomorrow morning. Colin Munro will rejoin the ODI squad tomorrow morning #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/grfVzgvHTa

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) February 2, 2019

Guptill’s erratic form in the recent times

The New Zealand opening batsman is been in poor form in the recent times. In four innings against India in this series so far he has scored 14, 13,15, and 05 runs.

The opening batsman had scored a hundred against Sri Lanka in the first ODI in January and since then has failed to make any impact with his bat.

His failure at the top is one the reasons behind the hosts abysmal batting performance in this ongoing ODI series.

If Guptill is ruled out of the game then New Zealand will use Colin Munro as the opening batsman. Munro too performed poorly in the first three ODIs and hence was dropped for the fourth ODI.

New Zealand squad for the last ODI versus India

The visitors have already won the ODI series by winning the first three games. The Kiwis now will be hoping that they atleast end the series on a high note by improving their performance in the fifth ODI.

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The squad: Kane Williamson (c), Todd Astle, Martin Guptill, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (wk), Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor