IND vs NZ: India suffered a huge blow to their WTC campaign as the top favourites of the World Test Championship for the third consecutive appearance into the finals after their initial two final appearances ended in disappointing losses.
After the first Chinnaswamy loss, which seemed very humiliating from India’s point of view, they seemed determined to turn their fortunes in the Pune test; however, once again, Rohit Sharma’s men could not get the best of the new turning and flatter track at Pune.
Washington Sundar, alongside the other two veteran spinners, has been the most legendary player for India, as Mitchell Santner alone spun the web around the Indian batters to give them a thrashing home series defeat after 12 years.
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Reports suggest Wankhede to be a supportive track for both batters and bowlers.
The reports for the upcoming test match track have suggested an equally efficient track for both the batsman as well as bowlers. Pitch reports have claimed that even if the pitch allows good batting conditions on day 1, it would slowly turn into a spin-favouring track as play proceeds on day 2.
Hence, this might be a golden opportunity ahead for batters to find form so that they can have some morale before making it to the BGT in Australia.
Kane Williamson to miss the Mumbai Test—Big Blow for New Zealand
Kane Williamson is reported to be partially fit to make an appearance for the final game of the series; however, with the Kiwis having won the series already, Williamson doesn’t want to risk playing himself before the home series.
After this, India will feature in the BGT while New Zealand will look to travel back home to host a home series against England, and Kane will be a vital player for the same. Williamson hence would return to action in the home series.
A young uncapped pacer called up for the third test
Harshit Rana, the often selected player who has been pucked across the ODI, T20I, and now finally the test ball side for the Indian side, has not made an appearance for the side so far.
Harshit Rana, the KKR maestro, is currently featuring in the Ranji Trophy after his excellence in the Duleep Trophy, where he picked multiple 4-fors. Playing for Delhi against Assam in the ongoing fixture, Rana picked up a 5-for in the first inning.
After the Assamese bowlers initially had the upper hand during the middle phase of the Delhi innings, Harshit Rana, alongside Sumit Mathur, added 99 runs for the 7-wicket when Rana scored 59 runs off just 78 balls.
Rana will be seen replacing the likes of Jasprit Bumrah or Mohammad Siraj for the third Test, as Bumrah would be the one to be dropped as suggested by reports to reduce his workload before the BGT. Rana will be among the three uncapped players in the BGT alongside Easwaran and NK Reddy.
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