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According to a report, all Indian players have been asked to compulsorily attend the practice sessions at Wankhede Stadium ahead of the third Test against New Zealand.
The third Test between India and New Zealand is scheduled to take place at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai from November 1 to 5. (Picture Credit: X/@BCCI)
After India’s 12-year unbeaten run of Test series at home came to an end on Saturday (October 26) in Pune, India team management has asked the players to attend the two-day practice session in Mumbai ahead of the start of the third and final Test of the ongoing series against New Zealand. The third Test of the ongoing India-New Zealand series is scheduled to take place at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai from November 1 to 5.
According to a report in Indian Express on Saturday, the Indian team management has informed all the players that there would be no optional training in Mumbai ahead of the third Test. All 16 players who are part of India’s Test squad have been instructed to attend the two practice sessions.
“The team management has asked the players to be present for two days of practice on October 30 and 31. It’s compulsory, and no one can skip it,” a source was quoted as saying by Indian Express.
In the past, the team management had allowed players to skip the nets a day before the start of the Test so that they could be fresh before a five-day game, but after India lost two back-to-back Tests at home against the Black Caps for the first time in history, some major changes are on the cards.
The third Test of the ongoing series in Mumbai is a must-win for India to redeem some pride and also keep its chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final alive, which is why the practice sessions at Wankhede Stadium will now be full-fledged ones where players will toil hard.
India defeated Kiwis in the last Test played between the two Tests at the iconic stadium in Mumbai when Black Caps last toured India in November-December 2021. But after losing two matches in a row, India can’t afford to underestimate the Kiwis once again.
India hasn’t suffered a whitewash at home since February 2000, and the Rohit Sharma-led side will be desperate to avoid that by coming up with a much-improved show in Mumbai.
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