Sun Nov 03 06:22:38 UTC 2024: ## India Stumbles Towards Victory in Third Test: Pant Leads the Charge
**Wellington, New Zealand:** India’s chase for a 147-run target in the third Test against New Zealand was off to a rocky start, with the top order crumbling under pressure from the Kiwi spinners.
At lunch on the third day, India was precariously positioned at 92/6, with Rishabh Pant (53*) and Washington Sundar (6*) at the crease. Pant, who was the lone warrior for India, reached his half-century and was instrumental in pulling India closer to victory.
New Zealand, aiming for a series whitewash, needs four wickets to seal the deal.
The pressure is now on the shoulders of Pant and Sundar to guide India to victory. While Ashwin, who will likely join the chase next, is capable of batting, contributions from Siraj and Akashdeep are unlikely to be significant.
The Kiwi spinners, particularly Ajaz Patel (4/30), were the architects of India’s collapse. Patel, aided by a pitch offering turn, rattled the Indian batting line-up, claiming the wickets of Rohit Sharma (11), Shubman Gill (1), Virat Kohli (1), Yashasvi Jaiswal (5), and Sarfaraz Khan (1).
Pant and Ravindra Jadeja (6) briefly stemmed the tide, putting on 42 runs for the sixth wicket before Jadeja was dismissed by Patel. Pant, however, continued his onslaught, taking on the Kiwi bowling with a mix of aggression and caution, providing hope for a remarkable comeback.
First Piper 