In a decider, a knockout, a must-win-or-you-go-home, there are certain players who a team will rely on a little bit more than most; the kind of players who seem to thrive on the big occasion and produce a match-winning knock or a game-changing spell. Those are the players that both India and New Zealand will look up to in the 5th ODI in Visakhapatnam on Saturday.
With the series locked at 2-2, the winner of this match will take the trophy home and here is a look which key player could prove to be the difference between a victory and defeat.
India: Virat Kohli: Yes, it's obvious, but it would be impossible to look past this man for THE key player slot when it comes to the big matches. Kohli lives for these games and it is almost as if he needs the extra pressure to get the best out of himself. The India vice-captain has played two knocks already to help India to wins, and you wouldn't want to bet against him making it three. There are very few better things to watch in cricket, if any at all, than Kohli in full flow, so everyone at the ACA-VDCA Stadium will hope they get to see a Virat special.
Jasprit Bumrah: The fast bowler has a brilliant ability to curtail the run flow in the death overs. MS Dhoni will hope the fast bowler also picks up wickets with the new(ish) ball, before taking that form into the final overs.
New Zealand: Kane Williamson: Again an obvious pick, but again hard to ignore when it comes to a must-win match. Williamson has scored one hundred already in this series, a century which proved to be a match-winning one, and while the Kiwi captain has blown a little hot and cold so far, expect him to go up a level or three for this 5th ODI. Williamson is the glue that holds this Black Caps batting together, and New Zealand will hope he stays Fevicol-strong for this match.
Jimmy Neesham: New Zealand's key all-rounder and one who has been quite effective with bat and ball. Neesham has the knack of picking up key wickets, while his half-century in Mohali was outstanding. If he gets a few wickets in the middle overs and then chips in with the bat as well with a quickfire knock, New Zealand could end up winning this series.
