Pune: India’s captain Rohit Sharma walks back after his dismissal during the first day of the second test cricket match between India and New Zealand, at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, in Pune, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. (PTI Photo/Kunal Patil)
Having suffered the ignominy of a first series defeat at home since 2012, India are now hoping to avoid the prospect of a first-of-its kind loss.
Only once have India ever been whitewashed in a home series — South Africa clean-swept them 2-0 in 2000 — and they have never failed to win at least one Test against a team that has toured for at least three matches. 2-0 down to New Zealand ahead of the final Test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India are hoping to avoid the humiliation, perhaps why, as The Indian Express reported late on Tuesday, they are planning a rank turner for the pitch in Mumbai.
India do not, however, have the greatest of records in recent years at the Wankhede. They have won only five of the last 10 Tests that have taken place at the grand old Mumbai stadium, of which three have been losses to England (twice), Australia and South Africa.
The last time India lost at the Wankhede was also the last time they lost a series at home, when England spun to a 2-1 series victory. It was a 10-wicket win for England on the day, with Kevin Pietersen’s remarkable first innings score of 186 inspiring the Brits to a famous win. More crucially — drawing parallels with the defeat in Pune — it had been the Indian batsmen that were found out, exposing their weaknesses against spin with Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar, who picked up 19 out of the 20 wickets in the match.
OPPONENT |
WINNER |
MARGIN |
DATE |
New Zealand |
India |
372 runs |
Dec 3-6, 2021 |
England |
India |
Innings & 36 runs |
Dec 8-12, 2016 |
West Indies |
India |
Innings & 126 runs |
Nov 14-16, 2013 |
England |
England |
10 wickets |
Nov 23-26, 2012 |
West Indies |
drawn |
– |
Nov 22-26, 2011 |
England |
England |
212 runs |
Mar 18-22, 2006 |
Australia |
India |
13 runs |
Nov 3-5, 2004 |
West Indies |
India |
Innings & 112 runs |
Oct 9-12, 2002 |
Australia |
Australia |
10 wickets |
Feb 27- Mar 1, 2001 |
South Africa |
South Africa |
4 wickets |
Feb 24-26, 2000 |
Friday’s encounter may also include an all-crucial toss. Three of the other four defeats India have suffered at the Wankhede Stadium since the turn of the millennium have been on turners where the chasing team has emerged victorious. That includes Australia’s 10-wicket win in 2001, and South Africa’s four-wicket win in 2000 (in the aforementioned whitewash).
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
First uploaded on: 30-10-2024 at 17:25 IST
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