India vs New Zealand 2017, 3rd T20I: 5 things India should do to win the decider

Both the matches in this India-NZ series have been one-sided so far, but the decider at Thiruvananthapuram is sure to be a mouth-watering clash.

Can India replicate it's first ever T20I win against New Zealand and clinch the series tomorrow? In order to do so, it would need to make some changes to its playing XI and strategy.

#5 Kuldeep in, Siraj out

India should play an extra wrist spinner and replace Mohammed Siraj with Kuldeep Yadav. Considering that NZ struggles against spinners, this will help India launch a more potent attack.

Siraj did not have a very impressive debut, ending with figures of 4-0-53-1.

With the series on the line, Kuldeep might be a better wicket-taking option - he has several variations up his sleeve that can rattle the NZ batsmen.

#4 Be wary of NZ's spin twins

Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner have been impressive in both T20Is

One factor common to both matches was India's failure to play effectively against NZ's spin twins. Sodhi and Santner had excellent aggregates of 8-0-55-2 in the first T20I and 8-0-56-2 in the second.

Both spinners did not allow the Indian batsmen to play freely and took wickets at crucial moments. Sodhi removed Hardik Pandya in both innings quickly, thereby minimizing India's chances of accelerating the run rate.

If India is to win the decider, it will need to perform better against them.

#3 Middle order: Manish Pandey in, Shreyas Iyer out

Shreyas Iyer did start his innings impressively, but he slowed down in the middle overs. Shreyas, like most Indian batsmen, struggled to score against spin.

Manish Pandey can add more solidity to the middle order

Since India's batting predominantly depends on its top three batsmen, it is important to strengthen the middle order by taking on someone like Manish Pandey who is relatively experienced at No. 4.

If the top order fails, it will be important for the middle order batsmen to accelerate in the middle overs.

#2 Crucial early wickets

Colin Munro has been in red-hot form, scoring 109 runs off 58 balls in the second T20I

New Zealand won the second T20I because of the solid start of 105 runs by the openers. Colin Munro scored 109 and Martin Guptill scored 45, tearing apart the Indian bowling attack.

It will important for the Indian opening bowlers to take early wickets and put pressure on the New Zealand middle order, which has not been in great form.

#1 Win toss and bat first

The team which gets to bats first will have the edge

In the first T20I, India scored 202-3 when put to bat first and won the match by 53 runs. The Kiwis scored 196-2 in the second T20I batting first and won the match by 40 runs.

Teams chasing a big total have often crumbled under pressure, and it would be ideal if India can win the toss, score big in the first innings, and put pressure on the NZ batsmen.

With India's death bowlers Bhuvi and Bumrah in good form, it will not be easy for the NZ batsmen to chase anything above 180.