IND vs NZ, 3rd Test, Day 3, Highlights: Another batting collapse from India as New Zealand inflict historic 3-0 whitewash. Rishabh Pant's heroic 64 goes in vain.
Brief Score: IND 263 & 121 (Rishabh Pant 64, Glenn Phillips 3/42, Ajaz Patel 6/57) lost to NZ 235 & 174 (Will Young 51, Glenn Phillips 26, Ravindra Jadeja 5/55) by 25 runs.
New Zealand blanked India 3-0 courtesy of a thrilling 25-run win over the hosts in the third and final Test at Wankhede. New Zealand spinners led by Ajaz Patel and Glenn Phillps overcame Rishabh Pant’s assault to complete a memorable Test series whitewash over India.
Talking Points: India continue to fail as batting unit
In what was a chance to get back to winning ways and gain confidence before going to the Australia tour, India batters once again failed miserably. Chasing 147 to salvage some pride, none of the batters barring Pant applied themselves and fell like nine-pins to the spin of Ajaz Patel and Glenn Phillips.
Read More: IND vs NZ, 3rd Test, Day 2: Wankhede sees 15-wicket day; NZ lead by 143 runs with a wicket in hand
India batters stutter in their chase
India wrapped up New Zealand’s innings quickly on the third morning as Ravindra Jadeja picked the wicket of Ajaz Patel. The last pair of Patel and Will O’Rourke could add just three runs to give the home team a target of 147 for the final innings.
The final innings of the series saw things happening rapidly. Rohit Sharma disappointed again by getting out early for 11, and his dismissal was followed by a procession of wickets falling. Ajaz Patel got rid of Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli in quick succession and then removed Sarfaraz Khan off a nothing delivery. India’s five wickets fell for just 28 runs in a mere 43 deliveries.
Amidst all this chaos, India’s hopes were kept alive by Rishabh Pant who first formed a 42-run stand with Ravindra Jadeja (6) and then with Washington Sundar. Pant hit his second half-century of the Test as the game hung in the balance going into lunch. India still needed 55 runs to avoid a whitewash with four wickets in hand.
NZ spinners wipe out India’s lower-order
India had things in control when Pant was in the crease but once the former departed when on 64, New Zealand spinners gained an upper hand. Runs weren’t coming from the bats of either end leading to the dismissal of Ravichandran Ashwin. One brought two more in quick succession as the Kiwis won the game by 25 runs.
Statistical analysis from India vs New Zealand, Third Test, Day 3
Ravindra Jadeja picked up his 15th Test five-wicket haul, his second of this game and third versus New Zealand. This is the first time, he has claimed twin fifers in a match.
With this, Jadeja also registered his third 10-wicket haul in Tests.
Rohit Sharma has the lowest batting average (33.32) for a top-order (1-7) India batter in the WTC 2023-25 cycle. (Minimum 10 innings)
India has registered the second-most number of ducks (104) in ICC World Test Championship history. England have registered the most ducks in WTC (116).
NZ scored 31 sixes in this Test series against India - their second-most number of sixes in a two-team Test series.
Ajaz Patel now has the most wickets (25) for a visiting bowler at one single Indian venue in Tests.
Patel picked his seventh five-wicket haul, and second 10-wicket match haul in Tests.
This is the second time that Pant registered two fifty-plus scores in a single Test match.
Virat Kohli scored 5 runs (4 & 1) in the Wankhede Test. This is his lowest sum total in a Test where he has batted twice.
This is the first time in history that left-arm spin bowlers have taken a fifer in all four innings of a Test. Jadeja with 2 fifers for India & Patel with 2 fifers for NZ.
This is the first time India has been whitewashed in a 3 or more Test series at home.
This is the first time in history that NZ has won a Test series of 3 or matches by 3-0.
Read More: IND vs NZ, 3rd Test, Day 1: Jadeja-Sundar limit NZ to 235; India throw away advantage, end at 86-4
What’s Next
Following this loss, India’s WTC Final chances have taken a hit and they need to do something special in their tour down under. Rohit-led side will take on Australia starting on 22 November at Perth.
On the other hand, New Zealand with all the confidence in the world will host England in a 3-match Test series starting 28 November at Christchurch.
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