3rd Test: Bumrah sits out as NZ opt to bat first against India

Mumbai (The Uttam Hindu): Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah sat out the third and final Test against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium after the visitors won the toss and elected to bat first. Indian captain Rohit Sharma confirmed that Bumrah is unwell and has not fully recovered from a viral illness, leading to his replacement by Mohd Siraj. There had been speculation about Bumrah being rested, but both head coach Gautam Gambhir and assistant coach Abhishek Nayar denied any such plans, especially after India had already lost the series 0-2.

New Zealand made two changes to their squad, with Mitchell Santner sidelined due to a side strain and Tim Southee also absent. Matt Henry, who passed a fitness test, and Ish Sodhi stepped in to fill the gaps. Captain Tom Latham explained their decision to bat first, stating they aimed to put runs on the board and create pressure on the Indian team. He noted the importance of adjusting to the pitch, which looked promising for batting.

Rohit Sharma acknowledged that he would have opted to bat first as well, admitting that India has not performed well in the series thus far. He emphasized the team's need to seize this opportunity to correct their previous shortcomings. While they are focused on the current match, he mentioned that the World Test Championship final is also on their minds, but the immediate priority is to play their best cricket in this Test.