Mumbai: New Zealand captain Tom Latham won the toss and opted to bat in the final Test of the series against India, aiming to put the hosts under early pressure by piling up a substantial first-innings total.
The visitors have retained much of their squad, with spinner Ish Sodhi and pacer Matt Henry returning to the lineup, replacing injured Mitch Santner and Tim Southee.
"We’re going to have gonna have a bat. It looks like a reasonably good surface, and hopefully, we can put some runs on the board," said Latham, reflecting confidence in his side’s recent performances.
He emphasised the importance of adapting quickly to the conditions, particularly after a successful stint in the series. "Test cricket can be a funny game. In Sri Lanka, we didn’t play all that badly but ended on the wrong side of the result," Latham added, underscoring New Zealand’s intention to keep things simple and continue playing their distinct brand of cricket.
India’s skipper, Rohit Sharma, acknowledged the team’s struggle to find form in the series, emphasising their resolve to finish on a high note. "We understand and accept that we haven’t played well. This Test gives us another opportunity to correct those things," Rohit stated.
With Jasprit Bumrah unfit for the game, Mohammed Siraj has been called in to bolster India’s bowling attack, adding a fresh edge to their pace department.
The Indian team also aims to focus on the present while keeping an eye on upcoming fixtures. “It’s crucial to stay in the moment, focus on what we need to do today, and worry about the rest later. We need to play our best cricket, which we haven’t managed so far in this series,” Sharma added.
The pitch at Wankhede Stadium is anticipated to offer some support for both batsmen and bowlers, promising an exciting contest between the two teams as New Zealand seeks to consolidate an early advantage with the bat.
Playing XI
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj.
New Zealand: Tom Latham (c), Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Ajaz Patel, William O’Rourke.