Daijiworld Media Network

Harare, Jun 15: The series has already been won by India 2-0. Today's encounter is a dead-rubber. However, the hosts have a lot on the line. The fans, who turned up to the previous two games were disappointed with the home sides performance. Here's a chance for Zimbabwe to make some redemption. Graeme Cremer has acknowledged that his side has underperformed and has urged the supporters to be patient. Can they put up a better display and register a consolation win? Or Dhoni and Co. will complete the whitewash?

Zimbabwe have won the toss and have opted to bat.

Cremer: 'We will have a bat. The wicket looks better. They have removed the grass. Quite happy to have won the toss.'

Dhoni: 'Ideally we were looking to bowl first. It may slow down as the game progresses, but it will remain good. Only one change for us, Fazal comes in for Karun Nair. We focus mainly on the process than the result. As a bowling department we have done well and the batters have made use of whatever little opportunity they have got.'

Pitch report: 'This is a new pitch. This is probably the best wicket of the series. It is hard and there is no grass. There are a bit of cracks and the ball will deviate. If I win the toss, I will bat first,' says Pat Symcox.

Preview by Prakash Govindasreenivasan

Things went from bad to worse for the hosts as Zimbabwe allowed India to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the One-Day International (ODI) series on Monday (June 13) and earned the wrath of their emotional fans. The loyal supporters turned on the players after they witnessed a batting collapse soon after an innings-defining partnership between Sikandar Raza and Vusi Sibanda.

While the Indian team took the day off, Zimbabwe hit the nets on the eve of the last ODI under the supervision of Makhaya Ntini and Lance Klusner, the head coach and batting coach of the side. While the sessions may help, it will come down to their ability to apply themselves in the middle if they are to avoid letting India complete a series sweep.

The toss has had quite an impact in the first two games, with India fielding first and bundling out the hosts cheaply on both occasions. While form has deserted them, Zimbabwe will hope a little luck could give them company in the final fixture.

Team news:

India: MS Dhoni spent some time whacking some throwdowns in the nets on Monday but it's unlikely he will push himself up the order. It remains to be seen if India give their bench-warmers a go in the last outing before the T20 leg. The likes of Faiz Fazal, Mandeep Singh, Jayant Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat and Rishi Dhawan are yet to play in the series so far, and with the series sealed, the Indian team, could look at giving some of their players a game.

Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe too could look at making changes in the dead rubber. If Sean Williams doesn't recover from his finger injury, Timycen Maruma could be considered. Young spinner Wellington Masakadza could also be drafted in.

Who said what

Makhaya Ntini: We haven't been able to be in a position to be able to conquer what we need to conquer. We haven't batted very well, our bowlers are very good but there's no score that they can defend. Everyone still believe that they can do it. There's no change in that.

Did you know:

If India win the third ODI, it will be the first ODI series whitewash for India under MS Dhoni away from home.

The last time Zimbabwe beat India in an ODI in a bilateral series was way back in March 2002 in Kochi. Since then India have won all 12 matches between the two sides.

Vusi Sibanda needs 44 more runs to become the eighth player to score 3000 ODI runs for Zimbabwe.