MUMBAI: According to coach Gary Stead, New Zealand’s chances of winning the famous series in India will depend on how well they adjust to the Mumbai field.
The tourists defeated India by eight wickets in the first match of the series in Bengaluru before defeating them by 113 runs in the second match on Saturday in Pune, snapping their opponents’ home winning streak of 18 series since 2012.
India’s last home series defeat came in 2000, when they lost 2-0 to South Africa.
Stead told the New Zealand media in advance of the third Test, which begins on Friday, “A series win in and of itself is incredible, but what we want to do is keep trying to get better every game, and we’re going to different circumstances now.”
He added that the Black Caps’ chances of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final the following year would rise with a further victory.
Stead, on the other hand, emphasized the difficulty of adjusting to the red clay pitch at Wankhede Stadium after playing on black soil surfaces in the two initial victories.
In the Cricket World Cup’s semi-finals last year, India defeated New Zealand by 70 runs at the venue, and in the longest format in 2021, they defeated India by 372 runs there.
He continued, “We’re going to have to adapt quickly because the red clay is very different.” While our next two trainings will be crucial, there is no doubt that one more victory would be beneficial for the WTC itself.
Fourth in the standings, New Zealand, who won the WTC title in 2021, must beat India and England in three home Tests next month to improve their chances of finishing in the top two.
Stead continued, “We had to win four Tests on the same day the first time we were in the situation of qualifying for the first WTC final, and we managed to.”
“Hopefully that will be something we can rely on to say, ‘We’ve done it before, here’s an opportunity to possibly do something very special again.'”
AJAZ’S ‘EMOTIONAL’ HOMECOMING Meanwhile, New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel stated on Wednesday that it was an “emotional” homecoming to his birthplace of Mumbai following his 10-wicket haul there three years ago.
Ajaz became the third bowler in Test history to take all 10 wickets in an innings in December 2021 at the same location.
New Zealand lost the match yet Ajaz joined tip top organization close by Britain off-spinner Jim Laker (1956 at Old Trafford) and Indian twist pro Anil Kumble (1999 in Delhi).
Ajaz, 36, told reporters, “Certainly emotional.” I suppose it’s always very special to be back in Mumbai, which is also where I call home. Being able to perform here once more is very special. He continued: Since I had a 10-wicket haul, I honestly wasn’t sure if I would get another chance to play here.
India remain the favorites, according to Ajaz, who made his Test debut in 2018 after moving from Mumbai with his parents to Auckland.
Ajaz stated, “I think India still have the wood on us when it comes to playing on turning wickets,” noting that Indian batters have historically performed well on turning surfaces. Although they haven’t been as successful as they might have liked in this series so far, they are unquestionably a formidable opponent with a high level of skill.
Abhishek Nayar, India’s assistant coach, said that the home team’s familiarity with the surface will help them beat New Zealand at Wankhede.
He stated, “We have to give New Zealand a lot of credit, the way they have played and the way they have countered spin.” A lot of the guys have played a lot of local cricket here, so they know what to expect from the pitch and the conditions.”
