New Zealand They will be looking to register a win in the third Test as they look to save their reputation and fight the perception about their waning ability to deal with a quality spin attack. India could walk a thin line between courage and desperation as they mount a strong comeback on a turner in the final match of the series starting on Friday. After losing their first home series in 12 years, India need to win the Wankhede Test to book a place in the World Test Championship final at Lord's in June.
With six Tests remaining in the 2023-25 cycle, two-time runners-up India
WTC At least four more wins will be needed to have another chance at the trophy. A turner in Pune exposed the weakness of the Indian batsmen's technique against slow bowling, but in line with the current team philosophy, it has decided to take the bull by the horns by demanding a turner where the ball hits the right angle from the first hour. But can move around. Another three-day finish is on the cards. Calling more than 20 slow bowlers for net practice, canceling optional sessions and drawing white lines to understand lines and estimate lengths are signs of nervousness among the rank and file after going 0-2 down.
Despite their remarkable fightback in the second innings of the opening Test, the poor performance of India's renowned batsmen against quality seamers and complete surrender to spin in Bengaluru has spelled the beginning of the end for some of India's superstars. Totals of 46, 156 and 245 paint a sad picture before Rohit's team takes on more challenging conditions in Australia. “I'm not going to say it's painful. This should hurt and this suffering will make us better. What's wrong in being in this situation?,” head coach Gautam Gambhir said on the eve of the third Test.
“I am sure it will inspire the youngsters to become better cricketers. If we have results like Kanpur, we can have results like this and keep going,” Gambhir said. Although it remains to be seen how well the four senior players like captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja fare in responding to this crisis, but if the workload is equally shared with youngsters Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill If so, they will get better service.
New Zealand's meticulous preparations and almost perfect execution of plans have posed some tough questions for India's batsmen and bowlers and the hosts are yet to answer them. The visiting team thrashed the Indian batsmen in terms of both pace and spin in Bengaluru and Pune, but the most surprising thing was that the spin duo of Ashwin and Jadeja were given the nod in a home Test series for the first time since playing together since late 2012. Was out.
Indian captain Rohit stood by his spinners after the crushing 113-run defeat in Pune, with Mitchell Santner performing brilliantly. But Rohit's own approach and form will also be closely monitored, as Rohit's philosophy of playing aggressively in Test cricket has at times led the captain to take unnecessary risks, such as in the seventh over when facing Tim Southee on the first day of the series. Within a few minutes he came behind the wicket but was out. Rohit has been bowled three times in the last two Test matches, while his bat-pad dismissal in the last innings against Santner made things even worse for the batting unit.
Kohli's missing full toss may have been a mind-boggling moment, but India's
batting superstar It cannot be denied that due to the period of major changes in the Test team, the pressure on him is continuously increasing. Amidst all the difficulties, Indian batsmen will have to face a tough challenge on the spin-friendly pitch at Wankhede Stadium. Ashwin and Jadeja have not looked dangerous even on home soil after many years. It would not be a surprise if Axar Patel plays for India as his bowling is typical of turners, where batsmen struggle to decide whether to come forward or backward. Keeping in mind the Australia tour, the team management has taken a wise decision and decided to rest Jasprit Bumrah.
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