MUMBAI: When India plays New Zealand in the third and final Test of the series on Friday in Mumbai, they will want to avoid a rare series whitewash at home. Head coach Gautam Gambhir said that his team had to rise to the challenge.
In Bengaluru, New Zealand defeated the hosts by eight wickets in their first Test victory in India in 36 years thanks to their relentless pace. They won by 113 runs, set up by the spinners, to win the series in Pune.
Since their 2-1 defeat by England 12 years earlier, New Zealand had not won a series in India since 1955. The Black Caps ended the hosts’ proud home record of 18 series victories in a row.
India’s last home series defeat came in 2000, when they lost 2-0 to South Africa. Gambhir said that his batsmen needed to get used to the situation before the next tour to Australia, where they will play five Tests.
We ought to be able to adjust. If we need to get a result, we should be able to bat for two days and get 400 on a single day. That’s growth, and that’s the whole point of test cricket,” Gambhir told reporters on Thursday.
“Test cricket can’t be played in a solitary way since it’s about flexibility, taking a gander at the circumstance and playing as per the circumstance and all the more significantly, it’s tied in with playing meetings.
With the quality of our batting lineup, “I think we’ll have a lot of runs on the board if we play 4-1/2 sessions if we can start to learn to play sessions.”
Mitchell Santner’s match take of 13 wickets in Pune uncovered India’s frailties against turn bowling.
“Occasionally, you must yield to the opposition. In the last game, I believe Mitchell Santner performed exceptionally. We will keep working hard and improving. Gambhir added, “The guys are working hard in the nets.”
When playing international cricket, the outcomes are ultimately what matter, but I don’t believe our spin bowling abilities have diminished.
“It’s about working hard and improving.”
The team, according to New Zealand captain Tom Latham, is anticipating the chance for a sweep.
Latham stated, “We’ve done a lot of good stuff over the last couple of weeks, but I guess for us, you go into every Test match with the focus of trying to win key moments, not necessarily focusing on the result.”
That is the result of putting together good sessions in succession and putting things together in succession. This pitch is different, and the conditions are different.
Latham, on the other hand, stated that the World Test Championship has given the five-day format new life by making each match count.
After taking an unbeatable lead against India, the Black Caps have resurrected their chances of reaching the WTC final at Lord’s the following year.
Latham stated to reporters in Mumbai, “From our point of view, there is a bigger carrot at the end in terms of the World Test Championship, so for us, every game is really important.”
After India’s two defeats, their lead at the top of the WTC standings has been reduced. Australia comes in close second, followed by Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
India lost to New Zealand in the inaugural WTC season and Australia the following year, respectively, after making the finals of both previous seasons.
According to Latham, winning the previous competition “gives you a taste of what that success feels like.”
He continued, “I think once you do it once, you want to do it again.”
Latham stated that India are a “quality side” despite winning the series, and that two defeats “doesn’t make them a bad team overnight.”
