New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel has warned India that batting will get considerably tougher on Day 3 of the final Test match in Mumbai. New Zealand closed Day 2 of the Test match at 171/9, leading the match by 143 runs. The team lost 8 wickets to India spinners – Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar as the ball turned square.
Speaking at the press conference on Saturday, 2 November, Patel said that the ball was turning from both sides of the pitch. The spinner claimed 5/103 in India’s first innings and said that the result of the match on Day 3 will depend if the pitch continues to break down further.
“Whatever we score, we’re going to have to try and do our best to restrict India but it’ll be interesting to see how the wicket continues to play,” Patel said when asked if New Zealand have enough on the board.
“It’s turning quite sharply, it’s inconsistent in terms of how much it does turn and bounce, but as a spinner it’s encouraging as well that you’re going to get something out of the surface and for batting it’s quite challenging,” he said.
Not only New Zealanders but Indian batters also found the pitch challenging in Mumbai. However, Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill played tremendous knocks to keep India ahead in terms of runs in the first innings. The spinner was further quizzed on the nature of the pitch in Mumbai and said that there was variable bounce on offer in the Mumbai track.
“It is certainly turning from both ends, it’s just the bounce is a little bit variable, so from a batting perspective that can be a challenge as well,” the spinner said.
Patel heaped praise on Rishabh Pant, whose counter-attacking 60 nullified the advantage New Zealand had at one stage.
“I felt like I bowled really well but Rishabh batted exceptionally, he’s been phenomenal throughout this tour and he’s kind of the player that’s put pressure back on us, regardless of the situation.
“As long as you’re putting the ball in good areas and you have a good plan and a good set field, then it’s about him taking the option and he is being very, very good and taking the right options,” he said.
New Zealand would look to push their lead past 150 runs on Day 3. The highest ever chase in Mumbai is 163 runs, which South Africa managed against Sachin Tendulkar’s India in 2000.
