3rd Test Live: India look to avoid series sweep against New Zealand

Mitchell Santner's match haul of 13 wickets in Pune exposed India's frailties against spin bowling.

"Sometimes you have to hand it to the opposition. I think Mitchell Santner was outstanding in the last game. We'll keep working hard and getting better. The guys are putting in the hard yards in the nets," Gambhir added.

"Ultimately it's the results that matter when you're playing international cricket, but I don't think our skills against spin have actually gone down.

"It's about working hard and getting better."

New Zealand skipper Tom Latham said the team were looking forward to the opportunity for a sweep.

"We've done a lot of good stuff over the last couple of weeks, but I guess for us, every test match, you go in with the focus of trying to win key moments, not necessarily focusing on the result," Latham said.

"That's the byproduct of putting things together back to back, good sessions back to back. This is a different pitch, and these are different conditions."

India will look to avoid a rare series whitewash at home when they meet New Zealand in the third and final test of the series in Mumbai from Friday and head coach Gautam Gambhir said his team had to rise to the challenge.

New Zealand tormented the hosts with pace and beat them by eight wickets in Bengaluru for their first test victory in India for 36 years. They wrapped up the series in Pune with a 113-run victory set up by the spinners.

It was New Zealand's maiden series win in India going back to 1955 and the Black Caps snapped the hosts' proud home streak of 18 successive series triumphs since their 2-1 defeat by England 12 years ago.

The last time India were blanked in a home series was in 2000, when they lost 2-0 to South Africa, and Gambhir said his batsmen had to adapt before next month's tour of Australia, where they will play five tests.

"We should be able to adapt. We should be a side that can get 400 on a day if we need to get a result and able to bat for two days as well. That's what growth is and that's what test cricket is all about," Gambhir told reporters on Thursday.

"Test cricket can't be played in a single manner because it's about adaptability, looking at the situation and playing according to the situation and more importantly, it's about playing sessions.

"If we can start to learn to play sessions, with the quality we have in our batting lineup, I think if we play 4-1/2 sessions we'll have a lot of runs on the board."

India have struggled with their batting throughout the series. Despite individual moments of brilliance from Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant, Virat Kohli, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, the frequent collapses have cost them dearly. Head coach Gautam Gambhir, emphasizing the importance of winning this Test, has ruled out any changes to the lineup, signaling the team will go all-in to salvage a victory.

For India, the key will be to avoid the batting collapses that plagued them in the first two matches.

Jasprit Bumrah, the pace spearhead, will again play a crucial role, though Gambhir admitted Bumrah has been conserving energy due to Mumbai's conditions.

New Zealand, led by Tom Latham, will look to continue their momentum. With Kane Williamson absent, the likes of Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, and their dangerous spin duo of Santner and Patel will be central to their plans. Patel, in particular, will be eager to repeat his heroics from 2021 at Wankhede.

This Test promises to be a fascinating contest, with India looking to bounce back and salvage some pride, while New Zealand will be keen to complete an unlikely whitewash in a country where they’ve historically struggled.

The third and final Test between India and New Zealand at Wankhede Stadium is set to be a high-stakes encounter. India, having already lost the series with two consecutive defeats, are determined to avoid a 3-0 whitewash, especially at home, where their reputation has taken a major hit.

For the first time in 12 years, their home dominance has been seriously dented. Rohit Sharma and his team are under immense pressure to restore pride, improve their standing in the World Test Championship, and rebuild confidence ahead of their upcoming tour of Australia.

New Zealand, fresh off their 2-0 series loss to Sri Lanka, have defied expectations in India, winning two Test matches on Indian soil for the first time in decades. Their pacers, led by Matt Henry and Tim Southee, set the tone in the first Test, while Mitchell Santner's spin heroics in Pune secured the series. The Wankhede pitch, which traditionally offers bounce and swing, could again favor New Zealand's bowlers, especially with memories of Ajaz Patel's 10-wicket haul at the same venue in 2021 still fresh.

India face a critical situation as they prepare for the third Test against New Zealand, needing a victory to maintain their chances for the World Test Championship final at Lord's. The team's struggles against quality spin bowling have raised concerns about their capabilities on home soil.

With six Tests remaining in the 2023-25 cycle, India need to secure at least four victories to compete for the WTC trophy, having finished as runners-up twice previously.

The recent performances in Pune revealed India's batting vulnerabilities against spin bowling. The team's preparation, including practicing with numerous spin bowlers and implementing specific training methods, indicates their concern after falling behind 0-2 in the series.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir acknowledged the situation, stating: "I am not going to sugarcoat that it is hurting. It should hurt and that hurt will make us better. What is wrong in being in this position?"

He further added: "I am sure this will push the youngsters to be better cricketers. If we have results like Kanpur, might as well have results like this and keep moving forward."

The senior players - Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja - need support from younger talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill to overcome this challenge.

New Zealand's strategic approach has effectively challenged India's batting and bowling units. The visitors have dominated with both pace and spin, while India's usually reliable spin duo of Ashwin and Jadeja have underperformed.

Captain Rohit's aggressive batting strategy and recent dismissals have raised questions about his approach. The team's batting unit faces additional pressure on the spin-friendly Wankhede pitch.

The pitch conditions, influenced by its proximity to the Arabian Sea, are expected to favor spinners. Axar Patel might join the playing eleven, given his effectiveness on turning tracks.