Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra feels India wouldn’t want a 0-3 loss against New Zealand in the ongoing Test series. India lost the first two Test matches against the Kiwis, which ended their 12-year and 18 consecutive Test series win record in home conditions.
Meanwhile, Gautam Gambhir took over the coaching baton from Rahul Dravid after the T20 World Cup 2024 success. However, it hasn’t been a promising start to Gambhir’s tenure as India also suffered a 2-0 ODI series loss against Sri Lanka while playing away.
While India has won all six T20Is under Gambhir’s tutelage (three each against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh), the team is yet to find its best in ODIs and Test cricket.
“It’s not a dead rubber. There are two things in this. Firstly, never have we ever lost a three-match home series 3-0. We were whitewashed once in a two-match series but it has never happened in a three-match series. We are on the threshold of that record as well. Don’t break it,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
After losing the first two Test matches against the Kiwis, India’s PCT in the WTC cycle has fallen to 62.82.
“Please win this match because WTC points are also involved. You will get 33% points (for the series) if you win this match. So many infamous records have already been created in Gautam Gambhir’s tenure. Then you say you don’t want to break any more records,” Chopra added.
On the other hand, former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has been ruled out of the third Test but Chopra reckons the visitors won’t be bothered as they won the first two Test matches in his absence.
“No Kane, no gain. Is that true? I don’t know, because New Zealand are saying they don’t have any tension. Let’s be honest, if you see this team, it hurts as to what we are doing. Tom Latham was batting well in the last innings. He was struggling apart from that. Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra are playing well. Who apart from these three is looking very confident or assured?”
The third and final Test match between India and New Zealand will be played at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai from November 1 onwards.
