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The Indian cricket team finds itself in an unprecedented predicament as they prepare to face New Zealand in the third and final Test match of the series at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The unthinkable has become a stark reality – the possibility of a whitewash at home, a scenario that seemed unimaginable given India's dominance in recent years, particularly on their own turf. The Kiwis have already etched their name in history, securing their first-ever Test series victory in India and breaking a decade-long streak of undefeated home series for the Indian team.
The pressure is mounting on Rohit Sharma and his team as they strive to avert a clean sweep, an outcome not witnessed in India for almost a quarter of a century. The significance of this match extends beyond simply avoiding a whitewash; it is a crucial contest in the quest for a place in the World Test Championship final. India's recent losses have put them in a precarious position, necessitating victories in four of their remaining six Test matches, including the Wankhede encounter, to guarantee their spot in the prestigious final.
The focus for India lies in addressing their batting woes, particularly in the first innings. The lack of substantial first-innings totals in the previous two Tests, with scores of 46 and 156 in drastically different conditions, has raised concerns. The team will be relying heavily on the home-ground advantage of captain Rohit Sharma, opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Sarfaraz Khan to provide a strong foundation and inject some much-needed confidence. Jaiswal has emerged as a standout performer this year, and all three players will be eager to capitalize on the familiar surroundings and deliver a performance that will inspire the home crowd.
However, the Wankhede pitch is expected to offer a stark contrast to the red-soil surfaces the Indian batsmen are accustomed to. The surface is likely to be a turning track, posing a formidable challenge similar to, if not exceeding, the one encountered in Pune. This change in conditions will play into the hands of the New Zealand spin duo of Ajaz Patel and Mitchell Santner, who have dominated the Indian batsmen in recent matches. Patel, the hero of the previous Test at the Wankhede in 2021, and Santner, who claimed the Player of the Match award in Pune, have proven to be potent forces on Indian soil.
India's hopes rest on the shoulders of their veteran spin duo, Ravindra Jadeja and R. Ashwin. The team will be expecting a trademark bowling performance from the duo to contain the Kiwi batsmen and provide the necessary support for a strong batting display. If Jadeja and Ashwin can deliver their best and the batting unit can overcome the challenging conditions and produce a substantial score, India has a fighting chance to avoid an embarrassing whitewash and secure their place in the World Test Championship final. However, the task ahead is daunting, and the Indians will need to dig deep and perform at their absolute best to overcome the formidable Kiwi challenge.
Source: India vs NZ 3rd Test preview: India keen to avoid embarrassing whitewash