In what can only be described as a gripping morning session at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Rishabh Pant emerged as India’s pivotal player, managing to keep the home team’s aspirations alive in the face of a fiercely competitive New Zealand side. With India chasing a moderate yet challenging target of 147 on a deteriorating pitch, Pant’s unbeaten 53 off 50 deliveries has positioned India with a fighting chance, despite New Zealand heading into the lunch break on the third day of the final Test with their confidence buoyed, looking to achieve a historic 3-0 series sweep.
The day began with a moment of triumph for Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who captured the final wicket of the New Zealand innings, dismissing Ajaz Patel and registering his second five-wicket haul in the same match—an impressive feat that added another feather to his cap. With New Zealand bowled out for 174, India faced a target of 147. Expectations were high as the Indian team sought to avoid an embarrassing series defeat at home.
However, New Zealand, determined to press home their advantage, delivered a near-perfect start to their defense. Skipper Rohit Sharma, struggling throughout the series, fell early in the innings. His mistimed pull shot off Matt Henry’s delivery handed New Zealand a crucial breakthrough, opening the floodgates as the Indian batting lineup began to crumble.
The menacing spin of Ajaz Patel once again laid India’s frailties against turn bare. Patel, who had been tormenting the Indian batsmen throughout the series, continued his rich vein of form, claiming key wickets. Shubman Gill’s colossal misjudgment when he left an arm-ball, only to see it crash into his stumps, set the tone for another spin-induced collapse. The drama intensified when Ajaz removed Virat Kohli, who has appeared out of sorts against spin, struggling to find his rhythm. The delivery, characterized by drift and sharp turn, proved too much for the Indian captain, who edged it to slip.
The collapse continued as Yashasvi Jaiswal was caught on the pads by a Glenn Phillips delivery that jagged back in sharply, trapping him leg-before. Sarfaraz Khan’s attempt to sweep a full-toss from Ajaz resulted in a top edge, leading to another scalp as the ball was neatly pouched.
. By this stage, Indian hopes seemed increasingly bleak at 29/5 within the seventh over, with the top order decimated in a matter of minutes.
It was then that Rishabh Pant stepped up, bringing his distinctive aggressive style to the fore—a tactic that injected much-needed energy into a struggling side. Demonstrating fearless footwork and unyielding intent, Pant took on the spinners audaciously, refusing to let them settle as he chanced his arms, hitting boundaries that wrested back some control for India. His efforts flashed signs of a recovery as Ravindra Jadeja offered stiff resistance at the other end.
Together, Jadeja and Pant compiled a resilient 42-run stand. But just as it seemed India was steadying the ship, a moment of brilliance from Will Young at short leg saw Jadeja depart as Young leapt to pluck a superb catch, once again tilting the balance in New Zealand’s favor. Washington Sundar then joined Pant at the crease, exuding a degree of confidence despite the mounting pressure. He offered a chance to New Zealand, yet Devon Conway was unable to capitalize, spilling what could have been a crucial catch.
Heading into the lunch break, India found themselves precariously placed at 92/6, requiring another 55 runs for victory with only four wickets in hand. The match is tantalizingly poised, set for a thrilling finish that has all in attendance on the edge of their seats. The onus now lies heavily on Pant to maintain composure and guide his team home in what has become a do-or-die situation for India. Standing between New Zealand and their dream of a comprehensive whitewash, Rishabh Pant is once again the focal point of this gripping Test encounter.
In terms of brief scores, New Zealand posted 235 and 174 (Will Young 51; Ravindra Jadeja 5-55, Ravichandran Ashwin 3-63), while India responded with 263 and 92/6 (Rishabh Pant 53*; Ajaz Patel 4-43), leaving New Zealand with a slim lead of 54 runs. As the tension mounts, cricket enthusiasts worldwide are keenly watching, anticipating the unfolding drama in this crucial concluding chapter of the series.