New Zealand made history in Pune last week by becoming the first Test team to defeat India in a series in India in 12 years. After winning the first two Test matches of the three-match series in Pune and Bengaluru in a space of a few days, New Zealand also won their first Test series against India in their own den, to put themselves in conversation for the World Test Championship (WTC) final next year.
In Mumbai, New Zealand will be expecting a wounded India to come hard at them, but if they are able to pace the initial storm from the hosts, there is a definite chance for them to whitewash the opposition 3-0. As per the initial reports, the Indian team management also wants the pitch to rag square in Mumbai just like Pune last week, which could play it into the hands of New Zealand as well.
In this article, SportsTiger looks at New Zealand’s probable playing XI versus New India for the third Test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Openers: Tom Latham (c), Devon Conway
Captain Tom Latham had a couple of starts in the early stage of the Test series versus India, but his exceptional 80 odd in the second innings of second Test in Pune in challenging conditions allowed New Zealand to post a daunting target for the hosts to chase. Devon Conway has gotten a couple of valuable fifties under his belt in Bengaluru and Pune Test matches, to set up New Zealand for above par total after a rough few months with the bat in Test cricket.
Middle Order: Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk)
Will Young has played a handful of Test matches in India, and he has always looked quite promising despite getting a big score under his belt. Rachin Ravindra’s first innings hundred in Bengaluru helped set-up the Test match for New Zealand before he made some valuable contributions in the remaining innings of the series thus far. Daryl Mitchell is yet to score a big one against India in the ongoing Test series, but his experience could prove to be vital for New Zealand in the absence of Kane Williamson, who is ruled out of the Mumbai Test due to injury.
All-Rounders: Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner
Glenn Phillips hasn’t set the world alight with the bat against India in the first two Test matches, but his contributions with the ball and in the field have come in quite handy for New Zealand. Mitchell Santner played his first Test match of the series in Pune last week, and he picked up a 13-wicket bag in the game, to pulverise the Indian batting lineup, and help New Zealand secure their first Test series win against the hosts in their own den.
Bowlers: Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke
Tim Southee has been quite steady with the ball for New Zealand against India in the first two Test matches after relinquishing the captaincy in the build-up to the series, while Matt Henry could make his way back into the team in Mumbai if the pitch has some early assistance for the pacers just like Bengaluru, where he took a five-wicket haul. Will O’Rourke’s impact was match-defining in the Bengaluru Test when pitch aided the fast bowlers while in Pune, the lack of help didn’t deter him in putting Indian batters off their game with his line and length along with decent pace.