Big picture: Pride (for India) and WTC points at stake
A 2-0 series score heading into the final Test is what most followers of the game would have predicted when this three-match series between India and New Zealand began 15 days ago. But almost no one would have predicted that the “2” would not go against the name of India.
It has taken New Zealand a series of firsts to find itself in the position it is in. And now, as they head to Mumbai with the series in the bag, they have a chance to do the unthinkable: sweep the series over India in India. . Only once have India been swept in a series of more than one Test at home (against South Africa in 1999-2000) and never in a series of more than two Tests. Can India save itself from blushing?
While there is pride on the line for the home team, there are also crucial WTC points on the line for both sides. India still leads the WTC points table, but that lead has been cut short with these two defeats. Another defeat here and they will have a lot to make up for in Australia.
For New Zealand, reaching the WTC final seemed far-fetched when this series began, but these two wins have put them back in contention. A win in Mumbai and then the three-match home series against England will keep them in contention for a second consecutive WTC final.
It has taken a lot of courage, determination and long periods of brilliant cricket for New Zealand to dictate the conditions. They cleaned out India for 46 in Bengaluru and then held on in the second innings when Rishabh Pant and Sarfaraz Khan hit them. Detractors would say that conditions in Bengaluru were more suitable for New Zealand than India. So they went to Pune and beat India in completely different conditions.
Rarely has a foreign spinner outperformed his Indian counterparts in India. But Mitchell Santner understood the task from the beginning and India had no answers to his cunning and immersion. They also have Ajaz Patel, who is the scene of their epic ten-wicket haul starting in 2021.
For India, it is more about how to bounce back from these shocking defeats and get a win under their belt ahead of the tour of Australia. On paper, this is dead rubber. In reality, it is quite the opposite.
forms guide
India LLWWW (last five tests, most recent first) New Zealand WWLLL
In the spotlight: Virat Kohli and Mitchell Santner
Virat Kohli has a problem, it’s called spin, and it has increased in recent years, especially in Asia. Since the beginning of 2022, Kohli has played 19 Tests in which he has scored four fifties and two centuries. Of them, 12 have been in Asia, where he has only achieved fifty-one hundred. What stands out about them is their fallibility against effects.
In 19 innings in Asia since January 2022, he has turned 16 times, averaging 29.31. The corresponding number versus pace is three dismissals with an average of 47.00. For someone who has that old-school long drive against spinners, he has often been dismissed playing from the crease. He has fallen in three of the four innings of this series, to Glenn Phillips in Bengaluru and twice to Santner in Pune. On a Mumbai surface that is meant to spin, Kohli might need to do a little more to achieve his spin numbers.
It will be Mitchell Santner who will once again have the task of not letting Kohli and the others get away. For someone whose Instagram bio reads “part-time New Zealand cricketer, full-time golfer”, it was an incredible effort to come in and pick up 13 wickets in Pune, the same number he had achieved in the five Tests he had played before. to arrive in June 2021. He had injured his side in Pune, but seems to have recovered well. He batted and bowled in the nets two days before the Mumbai Test and hopes to make a similar impact as he did in Pune.
Team News: Will Bumrah rest? What about Southee?
While the series is already lost, there are chances that India will give Jasprit Bumrah a rest ahead of the five-match series against Australia starting next month. As practice was mandatory, everyone did their best in the nets the day before the Test, except Bumrah, who did not bowl. Gautam Gambhir said that Bumrah is fit and available. But with a long tour ahead, India could try to give their premiership a quick rest, as they did earlier in the year against England in Ranchi. It remains to be seen whether they will replace him with a spinner in Kuldeep Yadav or a fast bowler in Mohammed Siraj. The batting unit should remain unchanged with Sarfaraz Khan retaining his place.
India (Probable XI): 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Rohit Sharma (captain), 3 Shubman Gill, 4 Virat Kohli, 5 Rishabh Pant (wk), 6 Sarfaraz Khan, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Washington Sundar, 10 Jasprit Bumrah /Kuldeep Yadav/Mohammed Siraj, 11 Deep Akash
Matt Henry looks set to return to the New Zealand XI after missing the Pune Test due to a glute problem. He bowled at full speed two days before the test and underwent a fitness test on Thursday. Henry was the pick of the bowlers in Bengaluru and is likely to replace Tim Southee. There were further indications from practice on the eve of the game with Santner fielding towards the quicks at third slip instead of Southee, who often occupies that position. The rest of the XI is likely to remain unchanged.
New Zealand (Likely XI): 1 Tom Latham (captain), 2 Devon Conway, 3 Will Young, 4 Rachin Ravindra, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Tom Blundell (wk), 7 Glenn Phillips, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Matt Henry, 10 Ajaz Patel , 11 William O’Rourke
Field and conditions
The red soil surface in Mumbai is dry and will change early. It is expected to crumble as the Test progresses but there should be good bounce for bowlers and fast spinners. It is expected to be humid in Mumbai and temperatures are likely to be in the low to mid 30s degrees Celsius.
Statistics and curiosities
Quotes
“I think it looks like a really good wicket. Obviously it’s very difficult for anyone to judge how the wicket will perform unless the game starts on it and both teams have batted on it. But I think it looks like a decent wicket and I’m sure “Once the guys get in, they’ll be able to make the most of it.” India head coach Gautama Gambhir on the surface of Wankhede
“I think so. We’ll take a look obviously at the wicket, but I think if you look at past pitches, I think most teams have batted first.” Captain Tom Latham He is clear about what he wants to do if New Zealand wins Friday’s draw
