India vs New Zealand, IND vs NZ, Today Match Prediction 03 December 2021

ind vs nz Match Prediction & Analysis

New Zealand held India to a stalemate in the opening match with their last wicket pair surviving for nearly 50+ balls. India will need to win this match to keep their undefeated home series streak going. India will never settle down for a draw or a loss in this match and they are all set to receive a big boost with their regular skipper making a comeback into the team.  New Zealand showed their passion and grit with every player contributing for the team`s cause and helping them to hold onto the match. They even had their moments when they had the upperhand in the match. Moreover both teams will be looking for the elusive 12 ICC Test Championship points on offer in this match. We can expect yet another thrilling contest between two of the top-2 teams in Test format.

TEAMS PREVIEW

India Preview

Debutant Shreyas Iyer top scored in both innings with 105 & 65 and led the team`s fightback in both the innings after an early collapse. Shubman Gill, Wridhiman Saha, and Ravindra Jadeja registered half-centuries and helped to build vital partnerships in the middle for the team. Ravi Ashwin (32 & 38 runs) and Axar patel made valuable contributions in the lower order to boost their total. Ajinkya Rahane or Mayank Agarwal might face the axe for incoming skipper Virat Kohli while Cheteshwar Pujara too has been on a rough patch for a long time.

Spin trio of Ravi Ashwin (6 wickets), Axar patel (6 wickets), and Ravi Jadeja (5 wickets) lead the Indian bowling attack on a tough surface to take wickets. Umesh Yadav prozed out a wicket each in the amtch while Ishant Sharma was unlucky to go wicketless in the first test. Mohammed Siraj might come in place of Ishant Sharma owing to workload issues.

Top Players to Bet on:

Ravi Ashwin: Ashwin is the top ranked spinner and he was phenomenal in the alst amtch using his variations to great effect claiming 6 wickets across 2 innings. He scored 38 & 32 vital lower order runs which provided to vital in the context of the match. 

Shreyas Iyer: Shreyas made 105 & 65 runs in crucial circumstances when the top order was failing and we expect him to retain his spot in the playing XI in this amcth. He will be high on confidence after winning the Man of the match award in his debut match. 

India Predicted Playing XI:

Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Shreyas Iyer, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav

India Actual Playing XI:

Mohammed Siraj, Shreyas Iyer, Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Cheteshwar Pujara, WP Saha, Virat Kohli, Umesh Yadav, Jayant Yadav

New Zealand Preview

Tom Latham lead the New Zealand innings with 95 & 52 runs in both the innings. Will Young was the only other player to make a substansial score of 89 runs in the match. Kane Wiliamson, Ross taylor, and Henry Nicholls need to stand up with the bat in the middle order in this match to help their team post a big score. Their lower order players Rachin Ravindra, William Somerville, and Ajaz Patel played vital cameos to rescue their team in second innings. 

Kiwi pacers Tim Southee (8 wickets) and Kyle Jamieson (6 wickets) bowled superbly in the alien conditions and tested the Indian batters with their line and lengths. Spinners need to be more consistent and test the batters in this match as only Ajaz Patel claimed 3 wickets in the last game while William Somerville and Rachin Ravindra failed to take wickets. They might look to add Neil Wagner at the expense of one of the spinners in this contest. 

Top Players to Bet on:

Tom Latham: Latham showed brilliant application in the sub-continetal conditions and top scored for New Zealand in both innings with 95 & 52 respectively. He will look to continue his good form in this match too. 

Tim Southee: Southee was phenomenal with the ball and his 5-fer in the first innings brought back their into the match while his 3 wickets in the second innings put them on a driver`s seat. He showed a seam bowling master class in the last game and never count out this veteran seamer. 

New Zealand Predicted Playing XI:

Tom Latham, Will Young, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Tom Blundell (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel, William Somerville/Neil Wagner

New Zealand Actual Playing XI:

Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Ajaz Patel, Henry Nicholls, William Somerville, Rachin Ravindra, Ross Taylor, Tom Blundell, TG Southee, Will Young, Kyle Jamieson

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

Wankhade is a good sporting track which provides assiatnce to the seamers early due to sea breeze and spinners might be unplayable on the last 2 days. The average scores in the first 2 innings is 300+ while it goes down to 240 & 129 in the third and fourth innings respectively. Mumbai is expected to have bright and sunny weather on all 5 days of the match and we expect no weather interuptions in the match. But, rain on the 2 days prior to match might restore some moisture contenet beneath the track.

Venue Details

Wankhade is one of the three grounds in the sub urbans of Mumbai and it is one of the iconic venues where India lifted the World cup 2011 after winning the finals. We expect a superb contest between the bat and ball in this match. 

Toss: To Bat

Batting first is a no-brainer in the sub-continental conditions as the pitch tends to deteriotae as the match progresses. Teams will look to bat first and score 400+ runs in the first innings and put the opposition to bat in the fourth innings in this pitch.