Cricket

Ravindra Jadeja's mesmerizing spell of left-arm spin wreaked havoc on New Zealand's batting lineup in the first innings of the third Test against India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.With India already holding an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, New Zealand opted to bat first after winning the toss. They made a promising start, reaching 159 for 4 with Will Young and Daryl Mitchell forging a solid partnership of 87 runs.However, the introduction of Jadeja proved to be a game-changer. The veteran spinner extracted sharp turn and bounce from the pitch, making life difficult for the Kiwi batsmen. In the 45th over, he struck twice in quick succession, dismissing Young for 71 and Tom Blundell for a three-ball duck.Jadeja's relentless attack continued, as he claimed the next three wickets to fall. He rattled the stumps behind Glenn Phillips for 17, trapped Ish Sodhi in front for 7, and cleaned up Matt Henry for 0 in his second double-wicket over of the day. This brought up his 14th five-wicket haul in Test cricket.New Zealand's innings crumbled rapidly after Jadeja's onslaught. Off-spinner Washington Sundar joined the party, dismissing top-scorer Mitchell for 82 and Ajaz Patel for 7 to finish with impressive figures of 4 for 81.The Kiwis were eventually bowled out for 235 in 65.4 overs, with Jadeja finishing with a match-winning haul of 5 for 47. His exceptional performance put India in a commanding position in the match and brought them closer to a series sweep.

On the opening day of the third Test between India and New Zealand in Mumbai, Sarfaraz Khan's fiery send-off to Rachin Ravindra marked a significant moment. Ravindra, a key performer for New Zealand, had been instrumental in their victories in the previous two Tests.During the first session, Washington Sundar's delivery crashed into Ravindra's stumps, leaving him bewildered. Sarfaraz, positioned at silly point, erupted in celebration and taunted Ravindra as he returned to the dressing room. Sundar's delivery was a masterstroke, earning him Ravindra's wicket for the third time in the series.Spinner Washington Sundar continued to shine, claiming two wickets as New Zealand ended the first session at 92/3. Will Young (38*) and Daryl Mitchell (11*) remained unbeaten.New Zealand's innings began poorly, with Akash Deep dismissing Devon Conway for four runs. Skipper Tom Latham and Will Young steadied the ship, but Sundar dismissed Latham for 28. Ravindra's dismissal for five runs further weakened New Zealand's position.Young and Mitchell guided New Zealand through the remainder of the session without further losses.India, trailing 0-2 in the series, will be determined to avoid a whitewash in the final Test. Mohammed Siraj has replaced the unwell Jasprit Bumrah in the Indian lineup, while Matt Henry has come in for Tim Southee for New Zealand.

India, seeking to salvage some pride after losing the first two Tests of the series, made a solitary change to their playing XI for the third and final Test against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.With the World Test Championship (WTC) points and a place in the final on the line, India opted to field first after losing the toss to the visiting Black Caps. The only change for the hosts was the inclusion of seamer Mohammed Siraj in place of Jasprit Bumrah, who was ruled out due to a viral illness.India captain Rohit Sharma acknowledged the team's poor performance in the first two Tests, stating, "We accept that we didn't play well this series. But this is an opportunity to correct that. Hopefully we can restrict them quickly."Meanwhile, New Zealand made two changes to their lineup, with Mitchell Santner and Tim Southee missing out due to injury. Matt Henry and Ish Sodhi replaced them in the playing XI.New Zealand skipper Tom Latham explained their decision to bat first, saying, "Reasonably good surface. Want to put runs on the board and put pressure later on. Focusing on this game. That's what we did in Pune after Bengaluru win too. But last week was last week. New opportunity this game."New Zealand ended India's 12-year unbeaten run in home Test series, which had stretched back to 2012. India had won 18 consecutive Test series at home before the defeats in October.

India faces a daunting challenge as they prepare to host New Zealand in the third and decisive Test match, starting Friday. After losing the first two Tests, India is desperate to salvage pride and avoid a humiliating home series defeat.The pressure is mounting on India's batting lineup, which has struggled against both pace and spin in the first two matches. The team's famed spinners, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, have also been outplayed by New Zealand's spin duo of Mitchell Santner and Ajaz Patel.In a bid to turn the tide, India has opted for a rank turner at the Wankhede Stadium, where the ball is expected to turn sharply from the first hour. The team has also called in 20 slow bowlers for net practice and drawn white lines on the pitch to gauge the length and lines.However, India's desperation could lead to recklessness, as they attempt to force a win on a pitch that may favor the bowlers. The team's recent performances have raised questions about their ability to negotiate quality spin attacks, and a three-day finish is on the cards.Despite their struggles, India's senior players, including captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ashwin, and Jadeja, will be expected to lead the fightback. However, they may need to share the workload with younger players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill.New Zealand, on the other hand, has been meticulous in their preparation and execution, exposing India's weaknesses with both pace and spin. The visitors will be confident of completing a series sweep and further dent India's hopes of reaching the World Test Championship final.India's captain, Rohit Sharma, has defended his spinners despite their poor performance in Pune, but his own approach and form will be under scrutiny. Kohli, too, is under pressure to deliver big runs as India faces a transition period in Test cricket.Amidst the odds stacked against them, India's batters will face a stern challenge on a pitch that is expected to favor the spinners. Ashwin and Jadeja have not looked menacing even on home soil, and Axar Patel may be brought into the team for his ability to bowl on turning tracks.The team management has rested Jasprit Bumrah for the match, keeping in mind the upcoming tour of Australia. While the Wankhede pitch may provide some early assistance to the fast bowlers, it is expected to play in favor of the spinners sooner rather than later.India will be hoping to replicate their success against Australia in 2004, when Murali Kartik wreaked havoc on a similar pitch. However, New Zealand will be determined to prevent a repeat of that result and secure a historic series victory in India.

India Prepares Sporting Track for Decisive Third Test Against New ZealandFacing the prospect of a series sweep, India is set to prepare a balanced pitch for the third and final Test against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium from November 1. The hosts have struggled against both seam and spin in the first two Tests, prompting a shift in strategy.According to sources, the pitch for the third Test is unlikely to be a rank turner, unlike the one in Pune where New Zealand's Mitchell Santner wreaked havoc with his left-arm spin. Instead, the Wankhede pitch is expected to offer a sporting balance, with some grass cover for the seamers and gradual turn for the spinners from Day 2 onwards.BCCI's chief pitch curator Ashish Bhowmick and elite panel curator Taposh Chatterjee met with Wankhede curator Ramesh Mamunkar to review the pitch. "It will be a sporting track. Right now, there's a bit of grass on the pitch. It's expected to be good for batting on Day 1 but should offer turn to spinners from Day 2," a reliable source told TOI.In the last Test at Wankhede in December 2021, India crushed New Zealand by 372 runs on a pitch that offered significant spin assistance. Ravichandran Ashwin took a match haul of 8 for 42, while New Zealand's Ajaz Patel made history with 14 wickets for 223 runs.However, the Indian team management is keen to avoid a repeat of the Pune debacle, where Santner's spin proved too much to handle. The Wankhede pitch is expected to provide a more balanced challenge, allowing both the seamers and spinners to play a role.The outcome of the third Test will be crucial for both teams. India needs to win to avoid a series sweep, while New Zealand will be looking to complete a historic victory on Indian soil. The pitch preparation will be a key factor in determining the outcome of this decisive encounter.

Virat Kohli's Unfortunate Dismissal Sparks Sympathy from FansIndian cricket star Virat Kohli's dismissal on Day 3 of the second Test against New Zealand in Pune has drawn widespread sympathy from fans. With India chasing a mammoth target of 359, Kohli's presence at the crease was crucial. However, a brilliant delivery from Mitchell Santner ended his innings prematurely.Santner's delivery zipped off the surface and struck Kohli in front of the leg stump. Umpire Richard Illingworth raised his finger, prompting Kohli to review the decision. However, ball tracking showed that the ball would have clipped the leg stump, upholding the on-field call.Kohli's disappointment was evident as he hesitated to leave the field. Fans took to social media to express their sympathy for the Indian batter, labeling him as the "unluckiest cricketer of all time.""Umpires call never favored Kohli," tweeted one fan. "Most unluckiest cricketer ever."Another fan commented, "How unlucky this man is... Umpire is always ready to raise his finger when it comes to Virat Kohli."Kohli's dismissal left India in a precarious position, with the hosts struggling at 178-7 at tea. Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin were at the crease, but India faced an uphill battle to avoid their first Test series defeat at home since 2012.Meanwhile, Santner continued to torment the Indian batting lineup, taking five wickets on Day 3. His performance put New Zealand on the verge of their first Test series win in India.

Virat Kohli's struggles against spinners in Asian conditions continued in the second Test against New Zealand in Pune. Chasing a daunting target of 359, India lost two quick wickets before Kohli and Washington Sundar steadied the innings with a 20-run partnership.However, Mitchell Santner dismissed Kohli leg-before wicket for 17, leaving India in a precarious position. Kohli's dismissal marked the first time a left-arm spinner had dismissed him in both innings of a Test match.Santner's brilliance continued as he bowled Sarfaraz Khan for 9, completing his second five-wicket haul of the match. He became the first New Zealand spinner to claim two five-wicket hauls in a single Test on Indian soil since Steve O'Keefe in 2017.Santner's performance put New Zealand in a commanding position as India struggled to chase down the target. His guile and accuracy proved too much for the Indian batters, who were unable to cope with his variations.Kohli's dismissal highlighted his ongoing difficulties against spinners in Asian conditions. Despite his impressive record against pace bowlers, he has struggled to adapt to the slower, turning pitches of the subcontinent.Santner's success against Kohli and the Indian batters demonstrated the importance of spin bowling in Asian conditions. Spinners can exploit the dry, dusty pitches to create turn and variation, making it difficult for batters to score runs.As the series progresses, India will need to find a way to counter the threat posed by Santner and other spinners. If they are unable to do so, they may struggle to win the series and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

India's pursuit of a record-breaking 359 against New Zealand in the second Test at Pune hit a major roadblock on Saturday, despite a promising start. After losing captain Rohit Sharma early, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal kept India in the game with a blistering half-century.Jaiswal's 62-run partnership with Shubman Gill provided India with the momentum they needed. The 22-year-old was in scintillating form, scoring a rapid 77 off just 65 balls, including three sixes and nine fours. However, his dismissal by Mitchell Santner in the 22nd over proved to be a turning point.Disaster struck in the very next over when Rishabh Pant was run out for a duck, leaving India reeling at 127/4. The run-out, described as "avoidable," shifted the momentum in New Zealand's favor. Pant's dismissal also saw him join an unwanted list, becoming only the third Indian batter to be dismissed for a duck via run-out while batting in the top seven positions since 1990.With India losing momentum, the task of chasing down the daunting target became even more challenging. Virat Kohli, who was involved in the mix-up that led to Pant's run-out, will need to play a crucial role if India is to have any chance of victory.The match is evenly poised heading into the final day, with India needing to bat with patience and determination to reach their target. New Zealand, on the other hand, will be looking to capitalize on their advantage and secure a series-leveling victory.

Ravindra Jadeja's lightning-fast reflexes and exceptional awareness on the field were on full display during the second Test against New Zealand in Pune. The Indian all-rounder pulled off a stunning run out that left fans reminiscing about the legendary MS Dhoni.The incident occurred in the 70th over of New Zealand's second innings. Glenn Phillips and Will O'Rourke attempted to steal a couple of runs after Phillips hit Jadeja's delivery towards deep cover. Washington Sundar's throw was slightly off target, giving O'Rourke a chance to reach the non-striker's end.However, Jadeja's quick thinking and agility came into play. He palmed the ball towards the stumps, and replays confirmed that O'Rourke was just short of his crease when the bails were dislodged. The dismissal helped India bowl out New Zealand for 255 in the second innings.Jadeja's run out was reminiscent of MS Dhoni's trademark style of innovative and lightning-fast stumpings. The Chennai Super Kings posted a tribute on Twitter, comparing Jadeja's effort to Dhoni's brilliance.The run out was a crucial moment in the match, as New Zealand were within reach of a historic Test series win in India. The Black Caps resumed at 198-5 on day three and were dismissed inside the first hour of play on a turning pitch.India were left with a daunting target of 359 for victory, the highest successful Test chase for India at home being 387 against England in Chennai in 2008. New Zealand lead the three-match series 1-0 and have never won a Test series in India.India spinners Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja shared seven wickets between them, with Jadeja claiming three of the five to fall on Saturday morning. Glenn Phillips hit an unbeaten 48 after starting the day on nine.Skipper Tom Latham top-scored with 86, while left-arm spinner Santner put New Zealand firmly in the driving seat on day two with 7-53 to bowl out India for 156.India are now staring at their first home Test series loss since December 2012, when Alastair Cook's England beat them 2-1 in a four-match series.