08:42 IST
In this game of competing outlooks, New Zealand sees themselves just six quality deliveries away from rattling India’s batting order and containing their lead. India, meanwhile, believes they’re a couple of responsible solid partnerships away from building a commanding position that could put them back in a strong position.
08:42 IST
The Kiwis’ bowling dominance in Mumbai is no surprise – they’ve already proven their mettle by skittling India for 46 in Bengaluru and then tearing through their batting lineup in Pune. This is just another chapter in their impressive run. And coming into the second day, we might possibly see more spin being deployed early on to ambush the vulnerable Indian batters.
08:39 IST
Despite missing Santner through injury, New Zealand finished strong in the final half-hour. Ajaz Patel, after a streak of underwhelming returns, kind of found his rhythm back, striking twice to give the visitors a crucial late surge. And of course, Wankhede being his happy hunting ground, the old memories were refreshed from 2021 when he took all ten wickets here on this very ground.
08:36 IST
As overnight batters Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill resume India’s innings, they’ll need to navigate the crucial first hour with patience and composure along with dealing the grip and turn. The humid Mumbai conditions, which had already drained the visiting team on day one, will test their temperament as they look to build on their partnership.
08:36 IST
Eight deliveries in fifteen chaotic minutes turned the game on its head. A series of self-inflicted wounds – poor shot selection by a set batter, a wasted review by a nightwatchman on a plumb LBW, and a needless run-out of the most impactful batter in the world – left India reeling. With Rohit and Virat’s form woes continuing, the middle order now faces a mountainous task. Their mission – not just to match New Zealand’s total, but to extend a lead that could prove decisive. With spinners finding increasing bite and turn, and Indian batters having looked vulnerable against the tweakers, the pressure is mounting faster on the hosts.
08:33 IST
Hello and a very warm welcome to our coverage of Day 2 of this third and the final Test which is being played at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. India have already lost the series and their aim here is not only to prevent a whitewash but also win this game and maintain their position in the top two in this cycle of WTC. It’s the second day and we are already into the second innings where India trail by 139 runs, with only 6 wickets in hand.
08:33 IST
… DAY 2, SESSION 1 …
08:21 IST
Right then, that is it from an exciting Day 1 of this 3rd Test. India needs to build up a few partnerships to get back in the game while New Zealand will back themselves to make early inroads and put even more pressure on the hosts. Day 2 will begin at 4 am GMT, but you can join us early for all the build-up. Cheers!
08:21 IST
Ravindra Jadeja is up for a flash interview. He says that he feels special to take a five-wicket haul. He feels grateful that he got the wickets when the team needed a breakthrough, especially in the heat. Says that the team did pretty well collectively and also appreciates Washington Sundar. Says he bowled extremely well and everyone played their roles with the ball. On being told about him crossing Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma in terms of wickets in Tests, he says that he didn’t know about that. Says he doesn’t see how many wickets he has taken and only sees when he is not playing. Is really happy to make contributions and progress. On being asked about the pace at which he bowling, he says that you have to mix the pace here and you can’t be too slow through the air. Mentions that there’s variable bounce off the surface so you have to use your arm to get more revolutions. On being asked about the last 15 minutes of collapse in the batting, he says it was unexpected and says that miscommunication happens. Ends by saying that they need to build partnerships and need to take a good lead.
08:21 IST
The last session pretty much belonged to India until the last 15 minutes. It didn’t take long for them to wrap the Kiwis up with Ravindra Jadeja completing a brilliant five-for and Washington Sundar adding a couple more to his tally. Trailing by 235, India came out with positive intent but once again Rohit Sharma fell after getting to a start despite getting a couple of lives. The pitch though still turned and bounced a lot but Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal mixed aggression with caution and didn’t let the Kiwis bowlers settle in adding 53 runs together before the latter lost his patience and gave away his wicket to a pre-meditated shot. What followed was absolute chaos. Mohammed Siraj came in as nightwatchman but went back for a golden duck and took a review with him as well. Then Virat Kohli threw away his wicket calling for a non-existent run. India lost 3 wickets in the space of 8 balls and now Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant will have to rebuild from scratch on Day 2.
08:21 IST
However, things didn’t go their way at the start because Will Young and Daryl Mitchell got settled and battled through the heat to keep the scoreboard ticking. They batted through the first hour with Young notching up a fifty as well. Just as when things were settling, Ravindra Jadeja came in and broke the 87-run stand and picked up one more in the same over. Glenn Phillips also couldn’t stay for long becoming the third victim of Jadeja. However, Mitchell didn’t give his wicket away, and despite being cramped up and struggling with the heat for himself to a half-century with the Kiwis being at 192/6 at the end of the session.
08:21 IST
Winning the toss and electing to bat first, New Zealand would have liked to put up a few more runs on the board. They lost Devon Conway pretty early but the skipper Tom Latham and Will Young for them through that period. Akash Deep provided the early breakthrough but it took them a while to get the next. It was Washington Sundar who went bang bang towards the end of the session to put the hosts just ahead in the game.
08:21 IST
SESSION SUMMARY – 129 runs and 8 wickets in 29.2 overs! A pretty eventful day of Test cricket! After a couple of shared sessions, it was looking like India were taking control of the game in the final session but New Zealand fought back brilliantly in the last 15 minutes of the day and made things even here going into Day 2. The hosts will be kicking themselves with how things panned out towards the end and it was absolute hara-kiri giving away the momentum to the Kiwis.
08:21 IST
18.6 – Pushed through flat and full on off, Rishabh Pant leans ahead and eases it to short cover for a quick single. AND THAT WILL BE STUMPS ON DAY 1!
Batsman_1 : Rishabh Pant 1(1)
Batsman_2 : Shubman Gill 31(38)
Bowler : Rachin Ravindra 0/8(1)
Over : 19
Run : 8
Wicket : 1
Score : 86/4
08:21 IST
18.5 – Low full toss at the leg stump. Gill works it away to the right of mid on for a single.
08:21 IST
18.4 – Length ball, just outside off. Gill hangs back and pushes it to point.
08:21 IST
Rishabh Pant walks out to bat now. Shubman Gill calls the physio for an issue with his back and is getting a massage. Maybe trying to delay things a bit too to make this the last over of the day.
08:21 IST
Is that a run out? New Zealand looks very confident and Matt Henry might have pulled something special here. The replay shows he has got his man and it is not any other batter, it is Virat Kohli who is found short of his crease.
08:21 IST
18.3 – OUT! DEAR, OH DEAR! RUN OUT! Almost a reminiscence of the Cheteshwar Pujara dismissal against Australia at The Adelaide Oval in the first Test in 2018, when Pat Cummins scored a direct hit from mid on to catch Pujara short at the bowling end. The batter and opposition are different this time but the result and the subsequent questions regarding the run precisely the same. In both cases, the call was questionable from the batter and the fielder was a fast bowler. Was the call made probably because Kohli felt that Henry might have been resting on his heels? And basically, was this run necessary at this stage of the day? Not sure. Kohli perishes too after a boundary. This is going from bad to worse now for India. A run out just at the brink of Stumps and Virat Kohli is absolutely animated with himself. Fuller in length, and at the stumps. Kohli got on the front foot and pushed it to mid on, calling through for a quick single. Matt Henry, at mid on was quick to pick and throw in a motion and scored a terrific direct hit at the non-striker’s end. Kohli was compelled to put in a full-length dive to get home. The Kiwis started to celebrate and the decision was referred upstairs. The TV umpire confirms that Kohli’s bat was just a foot outside the crease when the stumps were hit. It was Kohli’s call so no one else could be really blamed. Heartbreaking last 15 minutes or so for India as they have now slipped from a comfortable 78/1 to a precarious 84/4. On the other hand, terrific from New Zealand to keep on fighting till the very end.
08:21 IST
18.2 – FOUR! Skilfully played! A juicy full toss on the stumps, Virat Kohli stands tall and wrists the flick shot through widish mid-wicket for a classy boundary. That goes straight under the hands of the diving William O’Rourke at mid-wicket.