The hallowed turf of Wankhede Stadium finds itself at a fascinating crossroads as India prepare to face New Zealand in the third and final Test, with the unusual position of having already surrendered a home series. The stakes, however, remain incredibly high—caught between salvaging pride and securing vital World Test Championship (WTC) points.
India need to avoid a whitewash
For a team that has turned home conditions into an almost impregnable fortress over the past decade, the situation is nothing short of extraordinary. The last time India entered a dead rubber at home having lost the series was, coincidentally, at this very venue two decades ago against Australia.
The World Test Championship mathematics makes for concerning reading for Rohit Sharma’s men. With only six Tests remaining in their cycle—including five daunting assignments in Australia—India find themselves needing to win at least four to ensure a direct path to the WTC final. A defeat here would leave them with the nearly impossible task of winning four out of five Tests Down Under, a feat that would require something truly special even by India’s improved overseas standards of recent years.
WTC points table (as of 31 Oct)
Pressure on Indian batting ft. Rohit, Kohli
The pressure is particularly acute on India’s batting unit, which has crumbled to scores of 46 and 156 in their first innings at Bengaluru and Pune, respectively. The spotlight inevitably falls on captain Rohit Sharma, whose form has been a concern. Along with local boys Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sarfaraz Khan, he’ll be hoping the familiar Wankhede surroundings provide the perfect stage for redemption.
Virat Kohli, meanwhile, has been going on a lean patch as well. In fact, he has made just 245 runs at a horrible average of 27.22 across 10 Test innings so far. His game against spin has come under huge scrutiny, especially against someone like Mitchell Santner, who has made a habit of rattling the Indian unit.
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Spin or no spin?
What makes this contest particularly intriguing is the pitch factor. Early indications suggest a surface that could start turning from day one, something that India might not want. While this might seem like playing to India’s traditional strengths, their spinners’ unexpected struggles in this series has done a huge favour to New Zealand.
The timing couldn’t be more crucial. With a challenging Australian tour looming, India desperately needs to rediscover their winning touch. Another defeat would not only dent their WTC aspirations but also impact the team’s confidence heading into what promises to be a testing summer Down Under.
For Tom Latham’s New Zealand, already basking in the glory of their first series win in India, the motivation is clear – a chance to achieve what no visiting team has managed in nearly 25 years. Their composed performances in both Bengaluru and Pune suggest they’re more than capable of completing the sweep.
Predicted India Playing XI for 3rd Test
Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep
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