India faces New Zealand in the final Test of a series already secured by the visitors. With pride and critical WTC points at stake, India aims to avoid a rare home whitewash, a feat New Zealand could achieve with another win in Mumbai.
Conditions favor turn on the dry, red-soil pitch expected to break down, adding pressure on India’s spinners and their batting unit led by Virat Kohli, who has struggled against spin. Jasprit Bumrah may sit out, while Matt Henry looks set to return for New Zealand. It’s a dead rubber on paper, but both teams have plenty to play for.
India vs New Zealand: Preview
Heading into the final Test, a 2-0 scoreline in this three-match series between India and New Zealand is what most cricket enthusiasts anticipated—but few expected that the “2” would be in New Zealand’s favor.
New Zealand has achieved a series of firsts to reach this position. Now, with the series already won, they head to Mumbai with an opportunity to make history—a clean sweep against India in India. India has been swept at home in a multi-Test series only once, by South Africa in 1999-2000, and never in a series of more than two Tests. Will India manage to avoid a whitewash?
Beyond pride, crucial World Test Championship (WTC) points are on the line for both teams. India still tops the WTC points table, but these two losses have significantly narrowed their lead. A third defeat would leave them with a steep climb ahead in Australia.
For New Zealand, a WTC final appearance seemed unlikely at the start of this series, but these two victories have rekindled their hopes. A win in Mumbai, followed by a strong showing in their upcoming three-match home series against England, would keep them firmly in the race for another WTC final.
New Zealand has shown immense grit, determination, and consistently impressive cricket to seize control. They bowled India out for 46 in Bengaluru and held their ground when Rishabh Pant and Sarfaraz Khan went on the offensive in the second innings. Some might argue that Bengaluru’s conditions favored New Zealand, but they followed it up with a victory in Pune, where the conditions were entirely different.
It’s rare for a visiting spinner to outperform Indian bowlers on home soil, yet Mitchell Santner mastered the challenge right from the start, leaving India struggling against his flight and deception. Ajaz Patel also brings his own legacy, returning to the scene of his historic ten-wicket haul in 2021.
For India, the focus now is on rebounding from these unexpected losses and securing a morale-boosting win before heading to Australia. On paper, the final Test may be a dead rubber, but in reality, it’s anything but.
India vs New Zealand: Form Guide
India LLWWW (last five Tests, most recent first)
New Zealand WWLLL
India vs New Zealand: Players Under The Spotlight
Virat Kohli – India
Virat Kohli has a growing challenge: spin, especially on Asian pitches. Since the beginning of 2022, Kohli has played 19 Tests, scoring four half-centuries and two hundreds. Of these, 12 matches have been in Asia, where he has managed only a single fifty and a century, with his vulnerability to spin becoming increasingly evident.
In his 19 innings in Asia since January 2022, Kohli has been dismissed by spinners 16 times, averaging just 29.31, compared to three dismissals against pace where he averages 47.00. Despite his trademark forward stride against spin, Kohli has frequently been dismissed while playing from the crease. In this series, he’s fallen to spin three out of four times—once to Glenn Phillips in Bengaluru and twice to Mitchell Santner in Pune. With a turning surface expected in Mumbai, Kohli may need to adjust his approach to improve his numbers against spin.
Mitchell Santner – New Zealand
Mitchell Santner will once again be responsible for keeping Kohli and the rest in check. Despite his Instagram bio humorously stating “part-time New Zealand cricketer, full-time golfer,” his performance in Pune was remarkable, where he took 13 wickets—the same number he had collected across his last five Tests dating back to June 2021. Though he strained his side in Pune, he appears to be fully recovered, having both batted and bowled in the nets two days before the Mumbai Test. Santner will be aiming to replicate his standout impact from Pune.
India vs New Zealand Team: News and Predicted Lineup
India
With the series already decided, India may consider resting Jasprit Bumrah ahead of the five-Test series against Australia next month. Although practice was mandatory, Bumrah was notably absent from bowling in the nets the day before the Test, while everyone else went through their drills. Gautam Gambhir confirmed that Bumrah is fit and available, but with a long tour on the horizon, India might opt to rest their top pacer, as they did earlier this year against England in Ranchi. Whether they bring in spinner Kuldeep Yadav or pace option Mohammed Siraj as his replacement remains uncertain. The batting lineup, meanwhile, is expected to remain the same, with Sarfaraz Khan retaining his spot.
India – Predicted Lineup
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Rohit Sharma (capt)
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- Rishabh Pant (wk)
- Sarfaraz Khan
- Ravindra Jadeja
- R Ashwin
- Washington Sundar
- Kuldeep Yadav/Mohammed Siraj
- Akash Deep
New Zealand
Matt Henry appears poised to rejoin New Zealand’s XI after sitting out the Pune Test due to a glute issue. He bowled at full intensity two days before the Test and completed a fitness assessment on Thursday. Henry, who was the standout bowler in Bengaluru, is expected to replace Tim Southee.
Further hints came during the pre-game practice, with Santner fielding at third slip for the pacers instead of Southee, who usually occupies that spot. The remainder of the XI is expected to stay the same.
New Zealand – Predicted Lineup
- Tom Latham (capt)
- Devon Conway
- Will Young
- Rachin Ravindra
- Daryl Mitchell
- Tom Blundell (wk)
- Glenn Phillips
- Mitchell Santner
- Matt Henry
- Ajaz Patel
- William O’Rourke
India vs New Zealand: Pitch Conditions
Mumbai’s red-soil pitch is dry and likely to take turn early, crumbling as the Test progresses, though both pacers and spinners should enjoy some good bounce. Typical of Mumbai, conditions will be hot and humid, with temperatures forecasted in the low to mid-30s Celsius. The pitch, treated with brushing a day before play, is set to offer the usual turn and bounce associated with red-soil surfaces.
When and Where to Watch the India vs New Zealand 3rd Test?
The third Test match between India and New Zealand is scheduled to begin at 9:30 AM local time, with the toss taking place at 9:00 AM. In India, the match will be broadcast live on the Sports 18 Network.
The third Test match between India and New Zealand will be live-streamed on the Jio Cinema app and website in India.
When and Where to Watch the India vs New Zealand 3rd Test?
The third Test match between India and New Zealand is scheduled to begin at 9:30 AM local time. The match will be live-streamed on the Jio Cinema app and website in India.
