Team India's path is not easy even in the Mumbai Test, this is the performance in Wankhede, New Zealand holds the record.
New Zealand has done something that no one expected, at least not from the current New Zealand team. It has not been possible for any team to come to India and defeat Team India in a Test series in so many years, but New Zealand did it at a time when Team India was considered stronger than before. First in Bengaluru and then in Pune, New Zealand defeated Team India. Now the final match is going to be held in Mumbai, where on one hand the Kiwi team has a chance to create history, while on the other hand, Team India has the challenge of saving its honor. Although Team India has won many matches at the historic Wankhede Stadium, its record here is not at all one-sided. On the other hand, this ground is very special for New Zealand in many ways.
The third and final match of the Test series will be played at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium from November 1. This will be the last chance for Team India where it would like to end the series in a better way by defeating New Zealand. On the other hand, New Zealand's team, which has won the series by winning 2 matches in a row, would like to win this match with more confidence and high spirits. If New Zealand does this, then it will become only the second team to come to India and clean sweep Team India, while it can become the first team to win all the matches of a 3-match series.
How is Team India's record at Wankhede?
Team India is already being heavily criticized for losing the Test series at home after about 12 years, in such a situation, nothing less than a win in Mumbai will be tolerated, otherwise, the embarrassment will be manifold. But is it going to be that easy for Team India? After all, what do the statistics of Wankhede Stadium say? If seen, like most grounds in India, the number of Team India's wins in Wankhede is also high. Still, it is not one-sided at all. Team India has played a total of 26 Test matches in Wankhede Stadium in about 50 years, in which it has won only 12. That means it has won less than half the matches. At the same time, Team India has lost 7 times, which is about 30 percent of the matches played. The remaining 7 matches were draws.
The last match played here was between India and New Zealand 3 years ago in 2021 and that match was won by Team India. Still, this ground is special for New Zealand because two of the best moments of its history have come here. Talking about the 2021 Test, in that match, New Zealand's left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel took all 10 wickets in the first innings and became only the third bowler in cricket history to do so. At the same time, 36 years ago in 1988, he registered his last win against Team India on this ground. After that, the Kiwi team won a Test this time by coming to India. By the way, 3 Tests have been played between India and New Zealand on this ground, in which 2 came to India and 1 to New Zealand. Now Team India will hope that they can repeat the success of 2021.