NEW DELHI: India’s hopes of salvaging a win in the third and final Test against New Zealand will rest heavily on the shoulders of their senior batters, especially Virat Kohli, as they prepare for a tricky fourth-innings run chase on a turning Wankhede pitch.
New Zealand, who were reduced to 171/9 at stumps on Day 2, hold a lead of 143 runs, with India expected to chase around 150-160 when play resumes on Sunday.
With the pitch offering sharp turn and spinners dominating the match so far, Kohli’s role in guiding India to victory will be pivotal. Ravindra Jadeja (4-52) and Ravichandran Ashwin (3-63) took seven wickets between them to put India in a commanding position, but New Zealand’s potent spin attack, led by Ajaz Patel, looms large.Kohli has had a tough series, and all eyes will be on him to deliver a match-winning performance in what promises to be a tense, low-scoring contest. The former Indian captain has struggled with consistency in this series, managing just one notable knock — a fighting 70 in the first Test in Bengaluru, which came in a losing cause after India’s collapse for their lowest-ever home total of 46 in the first innings.
In the second Test in Pune, Kohli’s struggles continued as he scored only 1 and 17 in India’s 113-run defeat, which gave New Zealand their first-ever Test series win on Indian soil and ended India’s 12-year streak of 18 consecutive home Test series victories.
This series has been a forgettable one for the 35-year-old, who has faced immense scrutiny after being run out for just 4 in the first innings of the ongoing Test, a dismissal that came at a crucial juncture on the opening day.
India, who posted 263 in their first innings thanks to Shubman Gill’s 90 and Rishabh Pant’s 60, took a 28-run lead, but the final innings will present a different challenge altogether.
The Wankhede pitch has already seen spinners claim 24 of the 29 wickets so far in the match, with Ajaz Patel taking a five-wicket haul (5-103) in the first innings. Patel, who has a staggering 19 wickets at the Wankhede in just three innings, will be the biggest threat to India’s chase. New Zealand will also rely on the likes of Ish Sodhi, Glenn Phillips, and Rachin Ravindra to exploit the conditions.
Kohli will need to lead from the front, especially as India cannot always rely on their younger batters, like Gill and Pant, to rescue them in tough conditions. Senior players, including Kohli and Rohit Sharma, will have to handle the pressure and ensure that India chase the target efficiently.
For Kohli, this match represents an opportunity not only to redeem himself but also to gain valuable form ahead of the high-profile Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, which will be crucial for India’s World Test Championship aspirations. A match-winning innings here would not only give India a consolation win in the series but also provide the veteran batter a much-needed confidence boost.
With New Zealand having spun their way to victories in Bengaluru and Pune, India will need Kohli to dig deep and navigate a challenging pitch to prevent a rare series whitewash at home. The stage is set for a classic fourth-innings battle, and Kohli’s experience could make all the difference.