India vs New Zealand 3rd Test Pitch Report: India are 0-2 down in the three-match Test series against New Zealand. For the first time in 12 years, India have lost a Test series at home. However, with vital points at stake in the final Test match of the series at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, the third Test will not be a dead rubber by any stretch of the imagination.
Given that India have already lost two Test matches in a row, how the pitch will behave in the third Test and what the Indian team management wants from the surface has become an topic area of immense interest as the Indian team stares at a rare Test series whitewash at home.
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Sporting Track Or Rank Turner? What To Expect From Wankhede Pitch In India vs New Zealand 3rd Test?
However, two contrasting media reports have surfaced so far. While a report carried by Times of India (TOI) suggests that the wicket won't be a rank turner, the one carried by Indian Express reckons India have asked for the Wankhede Stadium pitch to be exactly that, a surface which offers assistance to spinners from Day 1.
"It will be a sporting track. Right now, there's a bit of grass on the pitch. It's expected to be good for batting on Day 1 but should offer turn to spinners from Day 2," a credible source told TOI.
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However, the Indian Express report makes a contradictory claim.
"The team management has requested to prepare a pitch which can help spinners from day 1. It seems the team wants to go on a tried and tested formula," a source told The Indian Express.
With the final Test match of the series set to commence on November 1, it will be interesting to see what exactly unfolds in India's last Test at home in this World Test Championship (WTC) cycle before their five-match Test series in Australia.