NEW DELHI: India committed harakiri late on the opening day of the third and final Test at the Wankhede, slumping to 86 for four at the close of play against New Zealand in Mumbai on Friday.
Already 0-2 down in the series, India bowlers did really well to first bowl out the visitors for 235 but then, in the final 20 minutes, the hosts hit the panic button, losing three wickets in 8 balls to hand the Kiwis the opening day honours.
The three wickets that India lost late in the session saw Yashasvi Jaiswal getting knocked over while trying an extravagant reverse slog-sweep and Virat Kohli committing a blunder while trying to steal a single and getting run out for 4.
At the close of play, India were still 149 runs behind.
As It HappenedRavindra Jadeja (5/65) and Washington Sundar (4/81) performed admirably to restrict the Kiwis to 235 but India's batting woes continued. Jadeja achieved his 14th five-for in Tests, surpassing former teammates Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma to advance to the fifth spot in India’s all-time Test wicket-taker list.
India, having lost by eight wickets in Bengaluru and by 113 runs in Pune, desperately need a win to stay in contention for the World Test Championship final, but the situation now looks dire after yet another collapse.
Kohli's (4) dismissal off a full-toss in Pune was a rare lapse, but on Friday his run-out at the end of the first day’s play left India in a challenging position.
India’s another batting collapse highlighted their shaky confidence, with Rohit Sharma (18) also failing to make a significant impact. Jaiswal and Shubman Gill (31 not out) managed a 53-run partnership for the second wicket before the late collapse.
Rohit, playing his second Test at the Wankhede Stadium, started brightly but couldn't capitalize on an early chance. William O'Rourke dropped a tough catch at fine leg off Henry in the fifth over after Rohit pulled a ball towards him. Two overs later, Rohit miscued a back-length ball, closing his bat face too early, leading to a catch by Tom Latham in the second slip.
Jaiswal and Gill then tried to stabilize the innings before Jaiswal's departure.
Earlier, Indian spinners shone as Jadeja (5/65) and Sundar (4/81) combined for nine wickets, restricting New Zealand to 235 after they chose to bat.
Washington picked up crucial wickets with a two-wicket burst, dismissing New Zealand captain Tom Latham (28) and the in-form Rachin Ravindra (5). Will Young (71) and Daryl Mitchell (82) played well, but in the hot, humid conditions, they struggled against India’s spinners on a spin-friendly pitch.
Young and Mitchell set New Zealand up for a big score, but Jadeja's skill shifted the momentum by leveraging the pitch conditions and taking five key wickets.
R Ashwin, despite his variations, went wicketless, but his partners made the most of the pitch, especially Jadeja, who bowled quicker and targeted the stumps.
New Zealand, collapsing from 159 for three to 235 all out, faced a tough challenge against Jadeja, but Mitchell showed resilience. Mitchell, the highest scorer with 82 off 129 balls, battled the heat by constantly hydrating and resting, hitting three fours and three sixes in his fighting knock.
Mitchell, often taking singles and doubles, faced intense heat, especially as he neared his fifty, with each of his three sixes coming late in his innings.
Young looked poised for a century, but Jadeja ended his knock with a turning delivery that clipped the bat’s shoulder, caught by Rohit at first slip. Young's innings of 71 off 138 balls included four fours and two sixes, showcasing his determination.
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