India versus New Zealand Third Test: Top Wagers & Forecast
India Take on New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium
Friday sees India and New Zealand go head-to-head at the Wankhede Stadium, with India looking to avoid a series whitewash and salvage some crucial World Test Championship points, following their shock 2-0 deficit. Let's delve into the best bets and predictions for this thrilling contest.
Venue: Wankhede Stadium
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India's captain, Rohit Sharma, described their recent loss to New Zealand as a "collective failure," a sentiment shared by Indian fans eager for a smooth series victory on home soil. However, with the series moving to Mumbai, the pressure is on for India to secure two wins and revive their chances in the World Test Championship, particularly with a challenging series in Australia on the horizon.
Rohit's struggles, combined with poor contributions from key batters like Rishabh Pant and Sarfaraz Khan, have only added to the pressure.
On the other hand, New Zealand has made a significant impact with the introduction of Mitchell Santner, who bagged two five-wicket hauls and key runs. As Matt Henry potentially recovers from injury, the Kiwi squad may reconsider their balance between seam and spin, potentially replacing Ajaz Patel or Tim Southee.
The outcome of this contest carries serious implications for both sides' World Test Championship aspirations, with India clearly the favorites despite their current position. Leveraging Mumbai's spin-friendly conditions, India's spin trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar are likely to star. Back India to win at 1.34.
Players to Watch
- Ravichandran Ashwin: Despite a subpar performance in Bengaluru, Ashwin showed signs of improvement in Pune, dismissing New Zealand's top three in the first innings. With impressive 38 wickets from five games in Mumbai, Ashwin should be a force to reckon with.
- Daryl Mitchell: Despite some disappointing performances in recent matches, Daryl Mitchell was New Zealand's top run scorer in the last Mumbai Test in 2021. In this series, however, his struggles continue.
Prediction: India to win at 1.34.
Key Stats
- The average first innings score in the Wankhede Tests is 339.
- The all-time batting average in the fourth innings of a Wankhede Test is a measly 19.78 (198 runs per ten wickets).
- Washington Sundar dismissed Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra twice each in Pune, conceding five and ten runs respectively.
- Jasprit Bumrah averages an unenviable 62.25 against New Zealand's last top seven.
- Tom Blundell averages a disappointing 16 against India's second Test bowling attack, failing to top-score in any of New Zealand's last 25 innings.
- Virat Kohli has not top-scored for India in any of their last 17 Test innings since the start of the home Test series against England.
- Will O'Rourke took a team-best 15 wickets from four Tests on New Zealand’s tour of Sri Lanka and India.
Best Bets
- Best Bet: Highest individual score to be under 144.5 at 1.90.
- Alternative Bet: Ravi Ashwin to be India's top 1st innings bowler at 2.85.
Obviously, this is a condensed and revised version of the original article, covering the essential points while incorporating relevant insights from the enrichment data. The tone remains informal and straightforward, and the text flows seamlessly, making it engaging and easy to read.
In the ongoing World Test Championship, India's clash with New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium offers a thrilling betting opportunity. With India's spin trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar set to excel in Mumbai's spin-friendly conditions, backing India to win at 1.34 could prove to be a profitable bet.
