Rohit Sharma, Gautam Gambhir resort to desperate ’35-bowler’ performance ahead of Mumbai Test to avoid 0-3 New Zealand whitewash

India, who suffered a home Test series defeat last week in Pune for the first time in 12 years and lost to New Zealand in the opening two matches of the three-Test series, are looking to avoid an embarrassing 24-year low as they take at Tom Latham’s men in the third and final match of the competition at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, starting on November 1. In preparation for the game, the management reportedly took a desperate step on Wednesday.

According to a report in The Indian Express, the team management comprising captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir urged the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) to call up 35 net bowlers during India’s practice session at the Wankhede Stadium. It was India’s first full-fledged training session since the series loss in Pune, which was followed by a two-day break.

India’s request for extra net bowlers, with the main focus being on spinners, stemmed from the fact that they were troubled by left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner in the second Test last week. The New Zealand bowler had picked 13 wickets for 157 runs, including a five-wicket haul in both innings, as he recorded the third-best figures by a visiting bowler in India.

Also, in another desperate bid to avoid a whitewash at home, India, in search of a consolation win and to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship, required a rank turner in Mumbai.

India out to avoid a 24-year-old first

New Zealand became the first team in 12 years to end India’s historic home dominance in Test cricket, which included 18 straight wins in a series dating back to 2013. They beat India in Bengaluru in the rain-soaked series opener by eight wickets before Santner helped them in posting a 113-run victory in the second Test in Pune.

While New Zealand are now on the verge of recording a third whitewash over India and a second clean sheet against a team on Asian soil after their 2-0 win against Bangladesh in 2004, Rohit and his men are on the verge of incurring claim a first home whitewash since India’s 0-2 loss against South Africa in 2000, which remains their only home whitewash.