Sun Nov 03 05:37:43 UTC 2024: ## New Zealand Spinners Look to Exploit Mumbai Pitch in Third Test
Mumbai, India – New Zealand left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel believes the Black Caps can capitalize on the turning wicket at the Wankhede Stadium and put India under pressure in the final innings of the third Test. With a lead of 143 runs, New Zealand have only one wicket remaining in their second innings.
“Whatever we score, we’re going to have to try and restrict India,” said Patel, who took five wickets in the first innings. “It’s turning quite sharply, it’s inconsistent in terms of how much it does turn and bounce, but as a spinner, it’s encouraging that you’re going to get something out of the surface. For batting, it’s quite challenging.”
Patel observed the pitch’s behavior over the last few days, noting that it tends to offer more turn in the afternoon, potentially due to the heat and drying out of the wicket. He expressed curiosity about how the pitch would play on day three, wondering if it would react similarly to the previous days or present a new challenge.
He also praised India’s wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant for his aggressive innings of 60 runs off 59 deliveries on day two, which put New Zealand under pressure. “I felt like I bowled really well, but Rishabh batted exceptionally,” Patel said. “He’s been phenomenal throughout this tour, and he’s the kind of player who puts pressure back on us, regardless of the situation.”
Despite the New Zealand spinners having a better performance than their Indian counterparts in the series, Patel doesn’t believe they have out-bowled the Indian spin attack. “I don’t necessarily believe we’ve out-bowled the Indian spinners,” he said. “The class of the Indian bowling attack is quite phenomenal. For us, as a spin bowling group, we’ve grown a lot, and we can continue to show that everyone is quite capable.”
The third Test is set to be a thrilling finale, with the unpredictable nature of the Mumbai pitch offering both opportunities and challenges for both teams.
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