India vs New Zealand: Record, reputation on the line in dead-rubber at Wankhede

The disappointment of losing a Test series at home has already set in for India. New Zealand pulled off an almost unthinkable feat when they edged past the home team in Pune. As India stumbled in their second match, the Kiwis became the team to end India’s streak of winning 18 Test series at home. India had cruised for 12 years without facing defeat in Tests at home. However, after falling against New Zealand, the record book was marred as they won the second consecutive match in the three-match Test series. Not all is done and dusted yet, though. While the series has already slipped out of India’s hands, there’s still much at stake when the team takes the field for the final India vs New Zealand clash in Mumbai.

India vs New Zealand: Why does India need to win the final Test at Wankhede?

After India was jolted to reality by their defeat in the rain-marred series opener at Chinnaswamy, specific preparations were made in Pune to try and secure the series. However, the Kiwis outplayed India at their own game as Mitchell Santner turned match-winner for them. The India vs New Zealand action in Pune saw many firsts for India, none of which the home team would have wanted to concede. First, New Zealand buried India’s streak of 4,331 days of remaining unbeaten in home Test series. The 113-run loss to New Zealand was India’s first since they were defeated 2-1 by England back in 2012.

Now, as attention shifts to the third and final match in Mumbai, the clash is termed a dead rubber because it won’t change the series result. However, a lot is at stake for India during this dead rubber at Wankhede. Record-wise, India has not endured a Test series whitewash at home in the last 24 years. The last time India lost every match in a red-ball series was in 2000, when South Africa claimed a 2-0 win over the hosts. However, India has never faced a whitewash in a series with three or more matches. The last time India did not win even a single clash in a three-match series was back in 1997 against Sri Lanka, led by the legendary Arjun Ranatunga.

WTC Finals at stake in the last India vs New Zealand match

Furthermore, putting aside the significance of records, every match the team plays has a considerable effect on their WTC standings. Ahead of the start of the India vs New Zealand series, India was the favorite to qualify first for the 2025 WTC Final. After pulling off a 2-0 whitewash over Bangladesh at home, India needed to win the series 3-0 against the Kiwis to claim their spot in the finals. However, now that the series has slipped from their grasp, the team needs to win the final India vs New Zealand match and the following Border Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.

India is still at the top of the WTC standings with 62.82 points. However, the series loss against New Zealand has put additional pressure on their upcoming tour of Australia. Continuing their four-season-long winning streak over the Kangaroos would not be the sole goal of the visitors now. India needs to win the five-match Test series in order to vie for a place in the 2025 WTC Finals, scheduled for June next year. Moreover, with Australia closely trailing them in the WTC rankings, the tussle Down Under will be extra strenuous.

India recently announced an 18-member squad for the Australia Tour, naming the likes of Abhimanyu Easwaran and Sarfaraz Khan in the lineup. Additionally, as Shami continues his absence from the squad, young pacer Harshit Rana, who is yet to debut, has been called up to the India squad. Furthermore, India has opted for pace all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy over Shardul Thakur for the five-match series. The batting lineup includes the expected names, with the addition of domestic star performer Abhimanyu Easwaran.