The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai will host the third and final match of the three-Test series between India and New Zealand.
India, having already lost the first two matches, will be eager to prevent a clean sweep and end the series on a high note. Meanwhile, New Zealand, riding high on momentum, will aim to complete their dominant performance.
Lets take a look at how the pitch might behave and insights from previous matches at this iconic venue.
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What can we expect from the Wankhede Stadium pitch?
The Wankhede Stadium pitch is known for being batting-friendly, especially in the initial stages of the game.
The surface is typically made of red soil, which provides good bounce, allowing the ball to come onto the bat nicely. This favors the batsmen, making it easier for them to score runs, particularly in the first couple of days.
However, as the match progresses, the pitch tends to break down, offering turn and bounce to spinners.
Will Wankhede Stadium pitch be a rank-turner?
On Tuesday, India Express reported that the team management has requested the Mumbai Cricket Association to prepare a rank-turned at Wankhede despite losing the second Test in Pune on a turning track.
A source quoted by IE said, "It will be rank turner pitch. The team management has requested to prepare a pitch which can help spinners from day 1. It seems the team wants to go on a tried and tested formula."
How have previous Tests at Wankhede panned out?
The last Test match played at the Wankhede was between India and New Zealand in December 2021. India won that match by a massive margin of 372 runs, largely thanks to Mayank Agarwal’s 150 in the first innings and Ravichandran Ashwin’s remarkable bowling across both innings.
Ashwin picked up 14 wickets in the match, showing how vital spin can be at this venue. Ajaz Patel of New Zealand also took all 10 wickets in India's first innings, showing the assistance spinners receive from the Wankhede pitch.
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Based on the history, it is likely that the upcoming IND vs NZ 3rd Test will follow a similar pattern: good conditions for batting early on, followed by significant turn and assistance for the spinners as the game goes on.
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