In a thrilling encounter at the Wankhede Stadium, the cricketing world witnessed a gripping third day of the final Test between India and New Zealand. A resilient 50-ball 53 not out by Rishabh Pant kept India’s faint hopes alive in a match that seesawed dramatically throughout the morning session. As both teams took a breather for the Lunch break, New Zealand stood with an upper edge, confident of completing a historic 3-0 series sweep, yet mindful of Pant’s determined presence at the crease.
The day’s proceedings began with India tasked to chase down a deceptively modest target of 147 runs on a pitch that had deteriorated into a challenging surface. The home side, under immense pressure, found themselves quickly on the back foot at 29/5 within the first seven overs. It was then that Pant stepped up to the plate, launching his counter-attack, undeterred by the precarious situation his team was in. With a blend of fearlessness and innovation, the left-hander injected some much-needed energy into India’s innings, crafting a pivotal innings that could yet determine the outcome of this sensational Test match.
Before Pant’s exploits, Ravindra Jadeja headlined the morning by securing the final New Zealand wicket, dismissing Ajaz Patel to complete a remarkable five-wicket haul. Impressively, this was the first instance where Jadeja achieved the feat of recording two five-wicket hauls in the same Test. His efforts conclusively bundled out New Zealand, setting India a target of 147 runs to avoid the ignominy of a series whitewash on home soil.
However, New Zealand’s bowlers, buoyed by their own commendable performance thus far, came out with fire and purpose. Matt Henry initiated the breakthrough with the critical wicket of Rohit Sharma. The Indian captain’s struggles in the series continued unabated as he fell prey to a miscued pull shot, handing Henry an early wicket and swinging momentum firmly in New Zealand’s favor. The Kiwis sensed an opportunity and went for the kill, with Ajaz Patel once more demonstrating his knack for tormenting the Indian batsmen with his probing spin.
Shubman Gill notably suffered a massive error in judgment when he left an arm-ball that crashed onto his stumps.
. Ajaz struck again with a telling blow, dismissing the experienced Virat Kohli. The Indian skipper’s ongoing vulnerability against spin was ruthlessly exposed, as Kohli succumbed to a delivery that drifted and turned precipitously, perilously nicking it to slip. Youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal followed after being deceived by a Glenn Phillips in-drifter, falling LBW, while Sarfaraz Khan’s unwise attempt at sweeping a full-toss only resulted in a top edge, gifting New Zealand yet another scalp.
As the innings seemed to unravel, Pant rose to the occasion, taking the attack to the spinners with aggressive footwork and resolute intent. While his approach might have come across as rash at times, it crucially kept New Zealand’s bowlers from getting into a rhythm. Alongside the steady Jadeja, Pant orchestrated a promising 42-run partnership before Jadeja fell, caught brilliantly by Will Young at short leg just before the Lunch interval.
Despite an eventful session, Washington Sundar entered the fray and appeared to absorb the pressure with composure. He narrowly escaped dismissal when Devon Conway failed to hold onto a chance late in the session. As the teams paused for the interval, India required 55 more runs with only four wickets in hand, setting the stage for a nerve-racking and potentially match-defining afternoon.
In cricketing circles, all eyes were on Pant as the singular impediment to New Zealand’s dream of a clean sweep. His unyielding knock not only added intrigue to an already mesmeric contest but also embodied India’s fighting spirit against a backdrop of formidable odds. The battle lines were drawn, promising a captivating continuation to one of the most memorable series encounters in recent memory.
Brief scores at this juncture notably highlight New Zealand’s contribution, with their tally at 235 and 174, admirably led by Will Young’s half-century and undermined by Ravindra Jadeja’s prowess at 5 for 55. Meanwhile, India stands at 263 and currently 92 for 6, a precarious 54 runs adrift, under the watchful eyes of Rishabh Pant, whose untamed innings could spell the difference between triumph and defeat on this cricketing stage.