India vs New Zealand Highlights, 3rd Test Day 1: India slump to 86/4 after Jadeja, Sundar bowl out New Zealand for 235

Pacer Mohammed Siraj is bowling now with Ravindra Jadeja for India. But there is no sign of wickets coming for the hosts. Both New Zealand batters are fully set now and are milking singles quite easily in the middle. India need wickets soon, otherwise the Kiwis are taking away this session for sure.

No balls are becoming a problem for Washington Sundar. The spinner just bowled his fifth of the innings, in his 12 overs. Daryl Mitchell (16*) hit the last delivery straight down the ground and ran three runs off it. Akash Deep saved a run for the hosts. Six runs came off it.

WOW! Will Young (52*) dances down the pitch and hits it straight down the ground for a six to bring up his half-century. The New Zealand batter converts the flighted delivery from Washington Sundar into a half-volley and lofts it over the bowler for a maximum. It is Young's 8th fifty in Test cricket. Runs are coming quickly for the visitors early in the second session.

New Zealand 109/3 in 29.4 overs

Will Young (45*) scores a two to bring up 100 for the visitors in the second session of the day. Ravindra Jadeja's delivery was hit towards deep point and ran two runs off it.

India will look for quick wickets to put more pressure on New Zealand in the second session of the day. While, New Zealand are steady in the middle after two wickets to Washington Sundar in quick succession.

NZ 92/2 after 27 overs

A dramatic end to the first session of the match. In the penultimate delivery of the morning session, there was a big shout for LBW against Daryl Mitchell. Amid the appeal, Washington Sundar threw the ball towards the stumps and missed it. The ball went for a boundary. India decided not to review and the review showed a thick edge before hitting the pads.

It was even-steven in the first hour of play, but a double strike from Washington Sundar in the second hour removed New Zealand skipper Tom Latham and Rachin Ravindra in quick succession. The two wickets gave India a slight edge going into the lunch break, especially after losing the toss.

Will Young (38 not out) and Daryl Mitchell (11 not out) are in the middle for the visitors, and they have added 20 runs for the fourth wicket so far.

India's wicket-takers so far - Washington Sundar (2/26) and Akash Deep (1/22).

Spin operating from both ends for India, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. Daryl Mitchell joined Will Young in the middle after the fall of Rachin Ravindra and the duo is playing cautiously for them.

BOWLED! What a beauty from Washington Sundar. Again, the left-handed New Zealand batter goes for a forward defensive shot and misses the ball completely. Sundar bowls the round the wicket delivery darting towards Rachin Ravindra but instead of spinning it holds its line again and crashes into the stumps. Another major breakthrough for India as Ravindra was an in-form batter for the visitors.

New Zealand 70/3 in 20 overs

That was closed! Will Young (29*) goes for a sweep shot against Washington Sundar and gets the thinnest of edge and the ball rolls over the rope at fine leg. Sundar almost thought Young missed the shot. Lucky boundary!

BOWLED! A massive breakthrough for India. Washington Sundar beats Tom Latham's outside edge and cleans up the New Zealand skipper. What a delivery from Sundar, forces Latham to play a forward push shot but the ball holds its line and crashes into the stumps. Latham scored 28 and added 44 runs for the second wicket with Will Young.

New Zealand 59/2 in 15.6 overs

First maximum of the match. Will Young (23*) dances down the pitch and smacks Ravichandran Ashwin over long-on for a six. What a shot! The Kiwis are getting aggressive after the drinks break.

50 up for New Zealand. Skipper Tom Latham (27*) brings up the landmark for the Kiwis with a well-directed sweep short towards fine leg for a boundary off Washington Sundar. NZ batters have now brought out the sweep shots against the India spinners, who are operating from both ends.

Drinks on the field after the end of first hour of play on the opening day of the third and final Test at Wankhede. It's an even-steven in the middle. Despite an early wicket in the form of Devon Conway, who was trapped LBW by Akash Deep in the fourth over, India failed to add more wickets and New Zealand managed to score runs at a decent rate. Skipper Tom Latham (22*) and Will Young (14*) have so far added 18 runs for the second wicket to steady their innings, after they opted to bat.

BANG! Akash Deep bowls another wide delivery on the off-side and Will Young smashes it for his second four of the over. Width on offer and Young this time nicely steer-punches it between backward point and gully. Good over for the visitors as India pacer leaks nine runs in it.

BOOM! Good shot to open his boundary count. Akash Deep gives width in the off side and Will Young pounces on it. Young opens the bat-face and punches this short of length ball behind square. Welcome boundary for the Kiwis.

Good going for India pacers so far in the morning session. But New Zealand skipper Tom Latham (18* off 20 balls) is keeping the scoreboard ticking for the visitors in the middle. Will Young has faced 18 balls for his three runs in contrast to his captain.

India bring in spinners in the first hour of the match. Ravichandran Ashwin comes in place of Mohammed Siraj in the attack.

Big breakthrough for India. Good delivery from Akash Deep, and it was plumb in front of the wicket. Devon Conway (4) took a review after discussing with his skipper Tom Latham. But the replay showed that it was - three reds. New Zealand not only lost their opener early but lost a review too. Round the wicket from the pacer to the left-hander and an early success for the hosts.

New Zealand 15/1 in 3.2 overs

BOOM! An over-pitched delivery from Mohammed Siraj and Devon Conway opens his account with a straight drive for a four.

EDGED & FOUR! Tom Latham (5*) opens his boundary count with a four off an edge. Akash Deep forces an outside edge off New Zealand captain's bat but it flies just wide of a diving Yashasvi Jaiswal. The ball goes between the third slip and gully for a boundary.

Since Wankhede's inaugural Test in 1974/75, the series defeat to NZ was India's tenth at home. Wankhede hosted a Test in nine of those series. (the only exception being the 0-1 loss to Pakistan in 1986/87). Before the third Test against NZ, India featured in a dead rubber at home with them trailing in the series only once in the last 40 years - against Australia in 2004/05. Wankhede was the venue for that Test also.

Tom Latham and Devon Conway in the middle to start the New Zealand innings. Mohammed Siraj with the ball for India.

New Zealand made two changes to their lineup: spinner Mitchell Santner was ruled out due to a side strain and was replaced by leg-spinner Ish Sodhi, while Matt Henry returned from injury to replace pace bowler Tim Southee. Kane Williamson, New Zealand’s star batter, remained absent as he continued to recover from a groin strain ahead of a home series against England.

India, trailing 2-0 in the series after losses in Bengaluru and Pune, made a single change, with fast bowler Mohammed Siraj replacing the unwell Jasprit Bumrah.

New Zealand XI: Tom Latham (c), Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (w), Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Ajaz Patel, William ORourke

India XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (w), Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj

New Zealand skipper Tom Latham wins the toss, decides to bat first against India at Wankhede stadium.

"If you look at this pitch, there's a little bit of moisture in it and hence the dark brownish colour. As you look at the other pitches in the square, you can see the difference in colour, it's slightly orangish. That's how this pitch will eventually become. It's about understanding what happens when moisture is there. There'll be a little bit of turn at the start and as the day progresses, it might get slightly better to bat on. But towards the end of the day's play and definitely tomorrow and as the game progresses, there'll be a lot more turns. If the team winning the toss doesn't bat first, I'd be very surprised. In the last five Test matches, 84% of the wickets have been picked up by the spinners. There'll be a little bit of help for the fast bowlers as it always is in Mumbai. There is something in it for everybody. As the game progresses, it'll tilt towards the spinners. Days one and two will be better to bat on. As the game progresses, it's going to be hard work for the batters." - Murali Kartik and Dinesh Karthik

18 consecutive bilateral home series wins has come to an end but India are still at the top of the WTC points table. If they win four of their six remaining matches, India will confirm a spot in the final for the third time in a row without relying on other results.

Rohit Sharma needs two more sixes to equal the record for most sixes for India in Tests. Virender Sehwag holds the record with 90 maximums in the traditional format of the game. Sehwag has played 103 Test matches for India, while Rohit has represented the national side in 63 Tests so far.

New Zealand skipper Tom Latham said on Thursday that the World Test Championship has given a context to Tests because of which we are seeing more result-oriented games. While New Zealand have sealed the series 2-0, the 12 points that teams will earn if they go on to win the third Test means the interest in the Wankhede Stadium game hasn't waned.

"The context (WTC) has put on Test cricket rather than the bilateral series has been fantastic. We've probably seen a few more results in terms of games that have been played, certainly over the last period," said Latham as New Zealand looked to whitewash India.

When quizzed about whether they can sweep the series, the 32-year-old played down their chances.

How did India get bamboozled by New Zealand spinners? Ask head coach Gautam Gambhir and he says it all "comes down to T20 cricket".

Speaking on the eve of the third Test at the Wankhede Stadium, Gambhir didn’t mince words when he spoke at length about how playing T20s has led to batters' downfall when it came to honing their defensive technique and the ability to play with soft hands in the longest format. India's batters were at sixes and sevens against Black Caps' left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, who finished with match figures of 13/157 in the second Test in Pune. That was the first time the 32-year-old had taken a five-wicket haul in his 29-match Test career.

"It has a lot to do with T20 cricket. When you are used to muscling the ball, you end up forgetting the soft hands… stuff which used to happen eight or 10 years back. That is why I say that a complete cricketer is one who would play the T20 format successfully as well as Tests. One can adapt his game. That is what growth is.

Are we on the brink of the biggest upset of the 21st century? In a year when Test cricket has ripped apart the formbook, can New Zealand do the unthinkable? After Bangladesh’s stunning 2-0 victory over Pakistan on their home turf, England’s home losses to Sri Lanka and Pakistan, the Kiwis — fresh off a heavy defeat in Sri Lanka — have secured their maiden series win in India and now stand on the verge of an unprecedented 3-0 whitewash over India, one of the toughest Test teams to beat on home soil.

Only a month ago, New Zealand left Galle bruised after a brutal series loss to Sri Lanka, where they were bowled out for 88 & 360 as Sri Lanka amassed a massive 602 for five declared. Now, with the third Test against India starting today, one wonders: will Wankhede Stadium witness New Zealand's own "Gabba moment," akin to India's famous triumph over Australia at Brisbane in Jan 2021?

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.