Weather in Hamilton is expected to be cloudy with high levels of humidity in the air as well as on the pitch due to heavy rain in the past two days. So, the bowlers from either side would like to pitch up more to garner seam while batsmen will have to come upfront to minimize the threat from moving balls.
Pitch curator Andrew Brown is also expecting some movement by saying that "the under-cover pitch will have something in it for the bowlers."
Meanwhile Rose Taylor, the New Zealand batsmen who played a crucial role in first ODI said in a pre-match conference that “rain and the Duckworth-Lewis Method is to play a part in the match."
India lost the last ODI in Napier by 24 runs as all four Indian batsmen including Virat, Raina, Dhoni and Jadeja failed to short pitch bowling while hooking and pulling, the idea which was backed by the Indian Captain Mahinder Singh Dhoni who said, "One of the options is to not to play the shot but our strength has been to play the shot." "At times we will get caught because it is a difficult shot to play," added Dhoni.
The match is going to be played in Seddon Park Cricket ground which is located close to the centre of Hamilton, the fifth largest city of New Zealand and 150 kilometres south of Auckland. It is also famous for it's village green-style setting which fascinates spectators with picnic like atmosphere.
Photograph by Benchill