It is not easy for team India to win the Mumbai Test. (Photo-PTI)
The result of the Mumbai Test match between India and New Zealand can only be known on the third day. Only 2 days have been played so far and New Zealand’s second innings is about to end. In such a situation, the third day of the game will be very important for both teams. By the end of the second day’s play, New Zealand had scored 171 runs for 9 wickets and took a lead of 143 runs. Although their lead seems to have been lost for the moment, the fourth innings figures at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai are very poor, which may result in a lot of tension for the Indian team.
Mumbai Test victory not easy for Indian team
On the third day of the game, New Zealand will look to score maximum runs in their second innings. At the same time, the Indian team will go out to finish the New Zealand innings as soon as possible. The second day of play saw a lot of change on the pitch, so on the third day the spinners will also dominate the match. But the tense issue for the Indian team is that the target of 150-plus runs has so far been pursued only once in the fourth innings on this wicket. Apart from this, the target of 100+ runs has not been pursued even once.
The South African team holds the record for the longest chase at the Wankhede Stadium. South Africa had achieved this feat against the Indian team in 2000. Then the captain of the Indian team was Sachin Tendulkar. Under the leadership of Hansie Cronje, South Africa won the match chasing the target of 163 runs. At the same time, in 1980, England chased the target of 98 runs against the Indian team here. In such a situation, it is clear that the fourth innings at the Wankhede stadium will be very difficult for the Indian team and to win the match, India will have to change this story at any cost.
Royalty at stake in Wankhede
Let us tell you that in the last 12 years, the Indian team has not lost a test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. In such a situation, team India will also have the responsibility of maintaining this dominance. The last time Team India had to face defeat at the hands of England was in November 2012 at Wankhede. After this, India defeated the West Indies, England and New Zealand in Tests on this ground.
