What's the story? Former skipper and wicket-keeper batsman MS Dhoni was seen practising at the nets ahead of the fourth ODI against Kane Williamson's men at Seddon Park, Hamilton. The background Team India registered a comfortable eight-wicket victory (DLS method) over the hosts in the first ODI at McLean Park, Napier- courtesy an excellent display of bowling from Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami and Yuzvendra Chahal. After dismissing the Black Caps for 157 runs, the Men in Blue chased down the target in just 34.5 overs for the loss of two wickets. After Rohit Sharma's early dismissal, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli made the major contributions with the willow for the visitors, amassing 75* off 103 balls and 45 off 59 balls respectively. Already 1-0 up, skipper Kohli opted to bat first after winning the toss at Mount Maunganui in the second ODI. India made good use of the excellent batting conditions and piled on 324 runs in 50 overs. Chasing 325 to level the series, New Zealand fell short of the target by 90 runs. The third ODI witnessed India making two changes (Dinesh Karthik in for MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya in for Vijay Shankar) to their XI. Kohli's men chased down the target of 244 in just 43 overs, thereby clinching the series, and the game by seven wickets. The heart of the matter The good news for Indian fans is that MS Dhoni, who missed the third ODI, was seen hitting the nets ahead of the Hamilton ODI, and is likely to return to the XI. Dhoni has started off 2019 on a high, amassing three half-centuries against Australia, and 48* in the second ODI against New Zealand. 📸📸 Snapshots from #TeamIndia's training session ahead of the 4th ODI against New Zealand #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/KTmYgLwK5n — BCCI (@BCCI) January 30, 2019 Rohit Sharma will be leading the side for the fourth and fifth games as well as the T20Is, since Virat Kohli has been rested. Young Shubman Gill, who won the under-19 World Cup in New Zealand last year is most likely to make his ODI debut at Hamilton due to Kohli's unavailability. What's next? Having sealed the series already, India might be tempted to test their bench strength. Expect more changes to the Indian XI at Seddon Park. Follow Sportskeeda for all the updates on Cricket news, schedule, points table, live scores, fantasy cricket tips and stats.<doc-sep>Mount Maunganui: Former India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was forced to skip the third ODI against New Zealand due to a hamstring strain, only the third such instance in his illustrious limited-overs career. India had Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to think as they mastered the chase once again after Hardik Pandya made an immediate impact upon his return as the visitors sealed the series in style by registering a seven-wicket win in the third ODI against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui. This is India's first series victory in New Zealand since 2009. The last time Dhoni missed a one-dayer due to injury was six years ago against during a 2013 tri-series in the West Indies. Known for his good fitness levels, Dhoni has missed only five ODIs in the last 14 years. Troubled by his hamstring, Dhoni had missed three matches in 2013 and also skipped one match each against Ireland and South Africa in 2007 due to viral fever. The 37-year-old had won the man of the series award in the recent three-match ODI series against Australia, his first in almost eight years for scoring three half-centuries -- 51, 55 not out and 87 not out. He continued in the same vein in the ongoing series against New Zealand, scoring an unbeaten 33-ball 48 to take India to 324-4 in the second ODI here.<doc-sep>Image Source : BCCI Dhoni sat out the 3rd ODI due to a hamstring injury Former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was seen training in the nets after he sat out the 3rd ODI against New Zealand due to a hamstring, making it only the third occasion when the veteran stumper was forced out of the playing XI. At 37, Dhoni has been one of the fittest Indian cricketers of the current generation and it's a rare occasion when fans witness an Indian line-up sans his name in white-ball cricket. The last time he was out of the playing XI was way back in 2013 when he missed three ODIs due to a hamstring injury in a tri-series in the West Indies. Now with Dhoni back in the nets, it's still quite uncertain whether he may make an appearance for the 4th ODI, which practically seems to be a dead rubber as India have already taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. The BCCI took to Twitter to upload a few snapshots, with Dhoni, Dhawan, Khaleel and Pandya training. Take a look. It is quite possible that the reserve players might make an appearance as Khaleel or Siraj can come in for Shami, who has had a hectic schedule so far. Youngster Shubman Gill may get to debut and come in place of rester skipper Virat Kohli for the remaining two ODIs against New Zealand. A formidable Indian team completely dominated an out of sorts New Zealand for a series-clinching seven-wicket win in the third ODI, continuing to send a resounding message of its near invincibility to every World Cup opposition. With an unassailable lead in the five-match series, skipper Virat Kohli signed off his tour Down Under on a high with a first ODI series win in New Zealand in 10 years.<doc-sep>
India vs New Zealand, 4th ODI: Rohit Sharma confirmed MS Dhoni is yet to recover from a hamstring injury (AP Photo) India wicketkeeper-batsman has missed the ongoing fourth ODI for the five-match series against New Zealand in Hamilton as he has failed to fully recover from a hamstring injury. Dhoni had not been part of the playing XI for the third ODI in Mount Maunganui. MS Dhoni had trained in Hamilton on Wednesday, raising hopes of an immediate comeback but the India team management, India Today had learnt, didn't want to take any risks when it came to the veteran's fitness, especially in the lead up to the important limited-overs assignments. Dhoni had missed the third ODI, which India won by seven wickets and sealed an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the series, in Hamilton. He picked up a sore hamstring during the second ODI in which he made a 33-ball unbeaten 48. India vs New Zealand 4th ODI: Live Cricket Score The Hamilton ODI was the first time in six years Dhoni missed a match due to an injury. He had missed three matches in 2013 during India's tour of West Indies with a similar hamstring issue. Notably, as of Monday, Dhoni had missed only five ODIs in the last 14 years due to injury concerns. He had skipped one match each against Ireland and South Africa in 2007 due to viral fever. There were quite a few concerns surrounding MS Dhoni's limited-over form in the lead up to the ODI series in Australia as the veteran wicketkeeper-batsman had struggled for form in 2018. In 20 matches, scoring 275 runs at 25 from 20 matches. However, Dhoni roared back to form in the three-match ODI series against Australia and helped India to their first-ever bilateral series win in Australia earlier this month. Scoring three successive centuries, including a series decider-winning 87 in Melbourne, Dhoni was handed the Man of the Series award. Regardless of Dhoni's batting form, his skills with the gloves have always been crucial to Team India's chances. Apart from his lightning-fast glovework, Dhoni's ability to guide the young spinners from behind the wickets has been a major talking point. Part-time spinner Kedar Jadhav had recently credited Dhoni for his success with the ball. "In the past also, I have mentioned every time I have a question, I look at him [Dhoni] and he tells me 'you have to bowl here... you have to bowl there.' And I close my eyes and bowl there and get a wicket," Jadhav had said. Also See: