IND vs NZ 3rd Test: India's collapse hands New Zealand the initiative after Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar shine

India finish Day 1 of the third Test against New Zealand at 86-4, still trailing by 149 runs (Image BCCI)

It’s now nearly a quarter-century since India were whitewashed in a home Test series. With a place in next summer’s World Test Championship (WTC) final also at stake, India went into the third and final Test against New Zealand in Mumbai knowing that nothing less than victory would do. And for almost the entire day, everything went according to plan. First, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar combined to send the visitors stumbling to 235 all out, before Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill added 54 after the early loss of Rohit Sharma.

But three wickets lost in 11 balls just before stumps changed the complexion of the match, with Jaiswal and Virat Kohli among those to fall. If the ignominy of a whitewash is to be avoided, India will need to bat out of their skins on day two. Gill and Rishabh Pant were at the crease when India closed at 86/4, still 149 behind on first innings.

They had gone into the Test without the unwell Jasprit Bumrah, but Akash Deep – sharing the new ball with the recalled Mohammed Siraj – gave them an early breakthrough trapping Devon Conway in front. Then, after nearly an hour of defiance, Tom Latham, the New Zealand skipper, fell to a magnificent delivery from Sundar, who turned the ball past the defensive prod.

The in-form Rachin Ravindra fell in nearly identical fashion, but Will Young and Daryl Mitchell then added 87 to utterly frustrate India. R Ashwin’s form continued to be a worry, as he bowled 14 overs without reward, and it was left to Jadeja, his long-time spin-bowling partner, to give India the opening, as subtle turn induced an edge to slip from Young. His 71 spanned 138 balls and included four fours and two sixes.

Tom Blundell was castled for a duck, and Glenn Phillips too saw his stumps knocked back by Jadeja as New Zealand slumped to 187/6. But Mitchell, who struck three fours and three sixes in his 129-ball 82, kept playing his shots even as wickets continued to fall. Ish Sodhi and Matt Henry fell in the space of three balls to Jadeja, and Sundar then returned to wrap up the innings with the wickets of Mitchell and Ajaz Patel.

In response, Rohit’s miserable series continued as he edged Henry to his counterpart at second slip after making just 18. The key wicket, however, was Jaiswal at the fag end of the day. He missed with his reverse-sweep and an elated Patel celebrated. Barely had that died down when Siraj, the nightwatchman, also departed, having burned a review after being trapped plumb in front.

There was still time for Kohli to risk a single to Henry at mid-on. Midway through the run, Kohli realised he was in trouble. But even a dive couldn’t save him as Henry found the target. As brilliant as New Zealand have often been throughout the series, they’ve been helped in no small measure by such generous gifts from India. This one said ‘Happy Diwali’ and came gift-wrapped.