Sarfaraz Khan's Fiery Send-Off to Rachin Ravindra Highlights India's Determination

Sarfaraz Khan’s Fiery Send-Off to Rachin Ravindra Highlights India’s Determination

On the opening day of the third Test between India and New Zealand in Mumbai, Sarfaraz Khan’s fiery send-off to Rachin Ravindra marked a significant moment. Ravindra, a key performer for New Zealand, had been instrumental in their victories in the previous two Tests.

During the first session, Washington Sundar’s delivery crashed into Ravindra’s stumps, leaving him bewildered. Sarfaraz, positioned at silly point, erupted in celebration and taunted Ravindra as he returned to the dressing room. Sundar’s delivery was a masterstroke, earning him Ravindra’s wicket for the third time in the series.

Spinner Washington Sundar continued to shine, claiming two wickets as New Zealand ended the first session at 92/3. Will Young (38*) and Daryl Mitchell (11*) remained unbeaten.

New Zealand’s innings began poorly, with Akash Deep dismissing Devon Conway for four runs. Skipper Tom Latham and Will Young steadied the ship, but Sundar dismissed Latham for 28. Ravindra’s dismissal for five runs further weakened New Zealand’s position.

Young and Mitchell guided New Zealand through the remainder of the session without further losses.

India, trailing 0-2 in the series, will be determined to avoid a whitewash in the final Test. Mohammed Siraj has replaced the unwell Jasprit Bumrah in the Indian lineup, while Matt Henry has come in for Tim Southee for New Zealand.

Jasprit Bumrah Ruled Out of Third Test Against New Zealand Due to Illness

Jasprit Bumrah Ruled Out of Third Test Against New Zealand Due to Illness

Indian cricket team’s star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the third Test against New Zealand in Mumbai due to a viral illness. The decision was announced by India skipper Rohit Sharma at the toss, with Mohammed Siraj replacing Bumrah in the playing XI.

“We understand that we haven’t played well in this series. Looks like a good pitch. Hopefully we can restrict them as quickly as possible. Our focus is on this Test match. Bumrah is not well, Siraj comes in for him,” Rohit said.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also confirmed Bumrah’s absence on social media. “Mr Jasprit Bumrah has not fully recovered from his viral illness. He was unavailable for selection for the third Test in Mumbai,” the BCCI tweeted.

New Zealand captain Tom Latham won the toss and elected to bat first. “We are gonna have a bat. Looks a reasonably good surface, hopefully put some runs on the board again and put a little bit of pressure later on. Definitely focusing on this game,” Latham said.

Latham also announced two changes to his team, with Ish Sodhi replacing the injured Mitch Santner and Matt Henry coming in for Tim Southee.

The teams for the third Test are as follows:

New Zealand: Tom Latham(c), Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell(w), Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Ajaz Patel, William O’Rourke.

India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj.

The third Test between India and New Zealand is crucial for both teams, with India looking to avoid a series defeat and New Zealand aiming to clinch the series. The match is expected to be a closely contested affair, with both teams boasting strong batting and bowling lineups.

Harshit Rana Ruled Out of Third Test, Focuses on Border-Gavaskar Trophy Preparation

Harshit Rana Ruled Out of Third Test, Focuses on Border-Gavaskar Trophy Preparation

India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir has confirmed that uncapped seamer Harshit Rana will not participate in the upcoming third Test match against New Zealand in Mumbai. Despite reports suggesting Rana’s inclusion in the squad, Gambhir clarified that the rumors are unfounded.

Rana, who has been a part of India’s white-ball teams since his impressive performance in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, has been brought to Mumbai to work with bowling coach Morne Morkel in preparation for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

“Harshit Rana is not part of the squad. He has just come here to prepare for the Australia tour,” Gambhir stated at the pre-match press conference. “We have a Test match here, and we want to use this time to prepare Rana for the BGT.”

Gambhir emphasized that Rana’s presence in Mumbai is solely for training purposes and has no bearing on the Test squad. The team management aims to utilize this opportunity to enhance Rana’s skills ahead of the crucial series against Australia.

The third Test between India and New Zealand will commence on Friday at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, the same venue where New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel achieved the remarkable feat of claiming 10 wickets in an innings.

Rehan Ahmed's Three Wickets Give England Upper Hand in Rawalpindi Test

Rehan Ahmed’s Three Wickets Give England Upper Hand in Rawalpindi Test

Pakistan’s first innings faltered on day two of the third Test in Rawalpindi, as England’s Rehan Ahmed claimed three crucial wickets to leave the hosts trailing by 80 runs. Resuming on 73 for 3, Pakistan’s hopes rested on Saud Shakeel and skipper Shan Masood. However, Masood’s dismissal for 26 off Shoaib Bashir’s bowling set the tone for a challenging session.

Shakeel, who resumed on 16, remained defiant, reaching his 11th Test fifty-plus score. However, a missed catch by Jamie Smith on 26 could have altered the course of the innings. Despite the setback, Shakeel and Masood consolidated their partnership, adding 53 runs in 130 deliveries.

The introduction of Rehan Ahmed proved pivotal for England. The legspinner trapped Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha leg before in quick succession, before dismissing Aamer Jamal with a googly. Ahmed’s impressive spell of 3 for 24 from eight overs, including two maidens, put England in the ascendancy.

Pakistan’s hopes now rest on Shakeel, who remains unbeaten on 72. However, the hosts face an uphill battle to avoid a significant deficit. England’s bowlers, led by Ahmed, have shown their class, and Pakistan will need to dig deep to salvage the innings.

Pakistan Faces Recovery Challenge in Deciding Test Against England

Pakistan Faces Recovery Challenge in Deciding Test Against England

Pakistan vs England, 3rd Test Day 2 Live Updates: Pakistan Faces Recovery Challenge After England’s 267

Pakistan’s batters face a daunting task on Day 2 of the decisive third Test against England in Rawalpindi, as they aim to recover from a shaky start and build a competitive total. The hosts ended Day 1 on 73 for 3, trailing England’s first-innings score of 267.

Overnight batters Shan Masood and Saud Shakeel will be crucial to Pakistan’s recovery efforts. Masood, the captain, and Shakeel remained unbeaten at stumps, with scores of 30 and 23, respectively.

England’s bowlers made early inroads on Day 1, with James Anderson dismissing Abdullah Shafique for a duck and Ollie Robinson removing Imam-ul-Haq for 12. Sajid Khan, Pakistan’s star performer in the second Test, continued his impressive form, claiming six wickets for 75 runs. He was ably supported by Noman Ali, who took three wickets.

England’s batting was led by wicket-keeper batter Jamie Smith, who scored a gritty 89. Opener Ben Duckett also made a valuable contribution with 52. However, Pakistan’s bowlers kept the English batsmen in check, with Khan and Ali sharing nine wickets between them.

Pakistan will need to bat patiently and build partnerships on Day 2 to put pressure on England. The pitch is expected to deteriorate as the match progresses, making batting conditions more challenging.

England, on the other hand, will be looking to maintain their momentum and take early wickets to put Pakistan under further pressure. The visitors will be confident of their chances, having won the first Test and drawn the second.

The outcome of the third Test will determine the series winner. Pakistan will be desperate to avoid defeat and level the series, while England will be aiming to secure a famous victory on Pakistani soil.

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