MUMBAI, India — In a bid to secure a series sweep in their tour of India, New Zealand’s captain Tom Latham won the toss on Friday, opting to bat first in the third and final Test match.
New Zealand has already made headlines, having clinched victories in the first two Tests held in Bengaluru and Pune, winning by margins of eight wickets and 113 runs. This achievement marks a historic milestone as it is New Zealand’s first Test series triumph in India.
On the other hand, India, which has not lost a Test series at home since 2012, is eager to rebound from this setback and avoid a 3-0 sweep. Their goal is to solidify their position in the 2025 World Test Championship. To do this, India must secure wins in four of their remaining six Tests, including five away matches against Australia scheduled over the next two and a half months, to ensure a spot in the June final at Lord’s next year.
After putting an end to India’s impressive streak of 18 consecutive series victories, New Zealand has the opportunity to make history again, as India has never faced a three-Test whitewash on home soil. The last time India experienced a home whitewash was back in 2000 against South Africa when Hansie Cronje’s team achieved a 2-0 success in a two-match series.
For this match, India made a single change to their playing XI from Pune. Jasprit Bumrah has been rested, making way for Mohammed Siraj to join the lineup.
New Zealand made two alterations as well. Mitchell Santner, who took 13 wickets in the previous Test, will miss this match due to a side strain, allowing leg spinner Ish Sodhi to take his place. Additionally, pacer Matt Henry, who has recovered from injury, replaces Tim Southee in the team.
The pitch at the iconic Wankhede Stadium is expected to favor batsmen during the initial stages. While morning moisture might entice fast bowlers from both teams, spinners are anticipated to play a significant role as the match progresses.
___
Lineups:
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj
New Zealand: Tom Latham (captain), Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Ajaz Patel, William O’Rourke
___