In an intriguing turn of events, New Zealand won the toss and decided to bat first in the final Test match against India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Kiwi captain Tom Latham announced two significant changes to their lineup: the omission of the standout performer Mitchell Santner due to injury, with Ish Sodhi stepping in as a replacement. Additionally, fast bowler Matt Henry returned to the squad, taking the place of Tim Southee.
India, facing a daunting challenge, made a single adjustment to their team as well. Captain Rohit Sharma confirmed that pacer Jasprit Bumrah is unwell and has been substituted by Mohammed Siraj. Despite being down 0-2 in the series, Sharma emphasised his focus on the current match, rather than the implications for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final.
With this match being crucial for India, they find themselves under pressure to avoid a home series whitewash. Their previous matches have been disappointing, particularly a dismal first innings total of just 46 in the series opener in Bengaluru and struggles against Santner’s bowling in Pune, where spin conditions proved challenging. The stakes are high as both teams prepare for what promises to be an exciting clash in Mumbai.
Playing 11s:
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj
New Zealand: Tom Latham (captain), Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wicketkeeper), Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Ajaz Patel, William ORourke