In a bid to salvage pride after an unexpected 2-0 series loss, India has reportedly asked the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) to prepare a “rank turner” pitch at the Wankhede Stadium for the third Test against New Zealand. This will be India’s final attempt to prevent a series whitewash a scenario that hasn’t happened on home soil since a 2-0 defeat to South Africa in 2000. With India’s record 18-series winning streak at home already broken, the team aims to leverage home conditions to avoid an unprecedented series sweep.
According to The Indian Express, the Indian team management has requested a pitch that would aid spinners from Day 1, hoping to capitalize on the strengths of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Despite this, the strategy comes with risks, as India’s batsmen have recently struggled on spinning tracks, particularly in the second Test in Pune, where New Zealand’s spinners, led by Mitchell Santner, outclassed India. Santner took 13 wickets in the series, with 7/53 in India’s first innings in Pune, highlighting Indian batsmen’s vulnerability against quality spin.
In contrast, Ashwin and Jadeja, who have performed well at the Wankhede in the past, will aim to counter New Zealand’s bowlers. Ashwin boasts 38 wickets in five matches here at an average of 18.42, while Jadeja has six wickets in his only Wankhede appearance. However, the pitch’s red soil is expected to provide bounce in addition to turn, adding another layer of difficulty for batsmen.
India’s struggle began in Bengaluru, where New Zealand’s pacers exploited a challenging pitch to bowl India out for a record-low 46 in the first innings. Despite a late counterattack from Sarfaraz Khan (150) and Rishabh Pant (99), New Zealand chased a modest target of 107 to claim their first Test victory on Indian soil since 1988.
New Zealand sealed their historic series win on a turning pitch in Pune, thanks to Santner’s career-best performance and contributions from skipper Tom Latham. A target of 359 proved too steep for India, as they were bowled out for 245, giving New Zealand a 113-run win and their first-ever Test series win in India.
The Wankhede pitch, with its spin-friendly conditions, represents India’s last chance to salvage their pride in a series that has shown New Zealand’s growing strength in all conditions.
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