Kolkata, Nov. 10 -- India have won the first two ODIs in New Zealand, and the series seems to be nearing its end for them. Except it's not. New Zealand have lost twice, yet the cricket has provided enough intrigue to suggest the series hasn't been one-sided. The third ODI at Hamilton on Tuesday offers an opportunity to make the series closer, purely because of the conditions. It's been raining in Hamilton, making the pitch preparation a slow process. And since it has been under covers for considerable lengths of time, seamers from both sides would be more than happy to give it a go. For India's batters, this could mean a much-needed extended workout after unconvincing performances in the first two one-dayers. That is perhaps the most interesting aspect of the series so far. India have been superior, but their batting has not yet delivered the sort of show that would make them invulnerable. Kohli's Auckland innings was a reminder of his ability to control a chase. His Wellington dismissal, however, was a reminder that even the most reliable batter can be made to look ordinary when the conditions and the bowler are in agreement. Shubman Gill has had a similarly mixed series. His 37 in the first match was useful, but the first-ball dismissal in the second match must have been frustrating. Rohit Sharma, too, has yet to make a substantial contribution. India have enough batting resources to absorb these setbacks, but they will want their senior players to spend more time at the crease. That apart, India's Test cause too gets a boost with the one-dayers forcing adjustments that shirtfront pitches of the subcontinent don't really warrant. "No one will make Test adjustments during a white-ball (series)... but the wickets here, with thicker grass, 12-14mm grass, the conditions-you get an idea even in the one-dayers," said India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak ahead of the third ODI. "You may not get wickets that are as green as you get in Test matches (in New Zealand), but it's quite good conditions to play in, and it's challenging to have 140-type matches. It's not like they are 300-type matches. It's a good thing, I think." Luke Ronchi, New Zealand's batting coach, too seemed to agree. "The bowlers have actually got the upper hand, there's nothing wrong with that," he said. "Like traditionally, you go around the world, especially in India, if teams don't make 400, you're in trouble, so it's just ridiculous, so (it's good) to see the bowlers have an opportunity and get some (helpful) conditions, because you still have to bowl well on it and both teams have been doing that." Be that as it may, New Zealand seem to be facing a concern even more fundamental, given how their top order has just not given the middle order enough to work with. Daryl Mitchell has been left to do too much of the rebuilding, while Mitchell Santner's lower-order contributions have been useful rather than transformative. New Zealand need any one among Will Young, Tim Seifert or Henry Nicholls to bat beyond the first 15 overs. New Zealand's bowling, at least, has offered some encouragement. With Jacob Duffy and Jamieson exposing the vulnerabilities in India's top order at Wellington, New Zealand would be encouraged by Hamilton's conditions. But so would India's bowling, backed by a consistent seam attack. Hamilton may offer New Zealand a more familiar setting, but home conditions alone will not solve their batting problems....