3 things India need to do right to beat New Zealand in the 3rd Test ft. batting approach vs spin
The series is already gone for India, with New Zealand having taken an unassailable 2-0 lead. When the caravan moves to the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Friday, November 1, the hosts won't be able to preserve their previously spotless home record in the last decade.
However, a spot in the final of the World Test Championship is still at stake. Rohit Sharma and Co. have all to play for in that regard and will look to be at their tactical best as they attempt to salvage some points.
India’s squad for the three Tests against New Zealand: Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Washington Sundar.
On that note, here are three things India need to do right to beat New Zealand in the third Test.
#3 India need to adapt against spin
It's a poorly kept secret that India's batters are no longer as good at playing spin as they used to be. Over the last few home series, we've seen opposition teams being able to trouble the Indian batters with their spinners, who on paper seem like they are of a poorer quality.
In the second Test in Pune, Mitchell Santner ran riot as he picked up 13 wickets in the match. In contrast, the Indian bowling attack led by Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja was rather non-threatening.
If India are to win at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, which is expected to produce some turn, they will need their batters to adapt on the fly. While the likes of Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli cannot be expected to play the sweep shot regularly, they will need to be proactive with their foot movement.
Kohli, Gill, and the others cannot afford to have long front-foot strides in the modern era and need to use their feet to either come down the track or hang back and play straight. Their current approach is hugely unsustainable.
#2 The lower order needs to chip in
One of the biggest reasons behind India having lost both Tests in the series so far is the form of their lower order. Runs have dried up from them, with the likes of Jadeja, Ashwin and the others not being able to chip in with cameos.
In the third Test against New Zealand, Jadeja and Ashwin will need to take batting responsibility upon their shoulders and ensure that the work done by the top and middle order is not lost. They are capable of keeping the Kiwi bowlers at bay and will need to dig deep.
Washington Sundar's addition has only boosted India's hopes in this regard. The young all-rounder has looked to be one of their more assured players against spin, and a promotion in the batting order could once again help the team's fortunes.
#1 India's spinners need to devise the right plans and bowl at the right speeds in Mumbai
India's spinners came under criticism for the way they operated on a turning track in Pune. Sundar was the pick of the bowlers, with a seven-wicket haul in the first innings underlining his stellar display, but Ashwin and Jadeja were rather unimpressive.
Jadeja was often too quick through the air and didn't attack the stumps often enough. While Ashwin was a tad better with his approach, his angles and ability to spin the ball at certain speeds were found wanting.
India's spinners might need to take a leaf out of Santner's book. They need to vary their pace while maintaining a high degree of length accuracy, and they also need to consistently keep the pads and both edges in play.