India vs New Zealand 3rd Test: Pride on line for battered Team India at Wankhede | Cricket news

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli (Photo by Idrees Mohammed/AFP via Getty Images)

Hosts seek redemption as New Zealand’s eye history clears
MUMBAI: Are we on the brink of the biggest rebellion of the 21st century? In a year when Test cricket has torn apart the form book, can New Zealand do the unthinkable? After Bangladesh’s stunning 2-0 win over Pakistan at home, England’s home losses to Sri Lanka and Pakistan, the Kiwis – fresh from a heavy defeat in Sri Lanka – have secured their first series win in India and are now on the brink of an unprecedented 3 -0 whitewash over India, one of the toughest Test teams to beat at home.
Just a month ago, New Zealand left Galle battered after a brutal series loss to Sri Lanka, where they were bowled out for 88 & 360 as Sri Lanka amassed a massive 602 for five declared. Now, with the third Test against India starting today, one wonders: will Wankhede Stadium witness New Zealand’s own “Gabba moment”, akin to India’s famous triumph over Australia in Brisbane in January 2021?
Scorecard: India vs New Zealand, 3rd Test
This time the tables are turned. Despite missing their captain Kane Williamson and senior pacer Trent Boult, the Kiwis have already surprised an experienced Team India in back-to-back Tests – on a nail-biting track in Bengaluru and a tourney in Pune. Can they pull off another win at a venue where India have not lost since November 2012?
For India, it is more than pride on the line. Head coach Gautam Gambhir, part of India’s last Wankhede defeat to England in 2012, will be cautious, especially given the threat of left-arm spin from Mitchell Santner and Ajaz Patel, who have proved very dangerous on turning rails. India desperately need a win here not only to save pride but also to stay in contention World Test Championship finals and to confirm their dominance on spinning pitches which has been their forte since the 2012 series.
This match could also be a defining moment for India’s senior players. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have all been stalwarts, but another loss could bring further scrutiny as they enter the twilight of their careers. Both Sharma and Kohli have struggled this series, with Kohli notably dismissed by a Santner throw in Pune, while Ashwin and Jadeja’s spin prowess has been overshadowed by their Kiwi counterparts.
New Zealand, bolstered by their balanced spin and seam attack and outstanding performances from Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindradeserves credit for staging a remarkable turnaround. The question remains: Can India stand on the Wankhede, or are we about to witness an upheaval for the ages?