IND vs NZ: 3 Indian players who should be rested for 3rd test in Mumbai

New Zealand are leading the three-match IND vs NZ test series 2-0.

The Indian cricket team are currently hosting New Zealand for a three-match test series at home. The visitors have outclassed the Asian Giants in the first two test matches. Even before the start of third test, New Zealand have already sealed their maiden test series win in India.

New Zealand won the first test match in Bengaluru by eight wickets, where India recorded their third-lowest total (46) in test cricket. Rachin Ravindra was named Player of the Match for his terrific century.

In the Pune test, left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner rocked India by picking 13 wickets in the game, helping his side clinch the test by 113 runs.

With this, India suffered their first home test series defeat since 2013, and their 18-series winning streak at home was snapped.

The two teams will meet in the third and last test of the series at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The third test will begin on November 1.

With a five-match test series in Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024 to kick off in just over three weeks, India might look to rest one or more players in the Mumbai test.

Three Indian players who should be rested for the third test against New Zealand:

1. Rishabh Pant

Wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant should be given a rest from the third test match in Mumbai against New Zealand. Notably, Pant suffered an injury to his knee during the Bengaluru test against New Zealand. The keeper-batter didn’t keep the wickets for India in the rest of the Bengaluru test, but he played a full role in Pune. 

For the Wankhede test, the Indian management might give Pant a much-needed break to allow his dodgy knee to heal more.

This would also allow Dhruv Jurel to get at least one match before flying to Australia for the BGT 2024-25 series.

2. Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah has been playing non-stop test cricket at home. Earlier this year, Bumrah played the two-match test series in South Africa, then four tests at home against England, and now has featured in four consecutive tests against Bangladesh and New Zealand.

With India’s biggest test assignment coming up in Australia, the right-arm speedster should be given some rest to manage his fitness and workload.

3. Yashasvi Jaiswal

Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal is another player who should rested for the third test match against New Zealand in Mumbai.

Jaiswal has featured in all of India’s 13 test matches since making his test debut in July 2023. Recently, the talented batter also became the first Indian batter to score 1000+ test runs in 2024.

With a long test series coming ahead in Australia, where his role will be crucial at the top of the order, the Indian management should give him a break of one test match to keep him fresh. However, this might not be possible as India don’t have a back-up opener in the squad.

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