Mumbai, November 1, 2024 — New Zealand have won the toss and elected to bat first in the final Test against India, aiming to further solidify their lead after an impressive series performance. However, both teams face notable absences as India’s premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah is sidelined due to viral fever, while New Zealand’s all-rounder Mitchell Santner, recently celebrated for his career-best figures of 13/157 in Pune, is ruled out due to a side strain.
During the toss, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma confirmed Bumrah’s unavailability, stating, “Bumrah is not well, so Siraj replaces him.” With India keenly aware of their position at the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) Standings, Sharma emphasized that while qualifying for the WTC Final is a priority, their immediate focus remains on the challenge posed by New Zealand in this final game.
New Zealand captain Tom Latham, who led the Kiwis to their historic first Test series victory in India with an unassailable 2-0 lead, expressed confidence in the pitch conditions and emphasized the importance of setting a formidable first-innings score. “The surface looks reasonably good for batting,” Latham stated, “and we hope to put India under pressure by building a solid total on the board.”
With their commanding performance in the first two matches, New Zealand has achieved a landmark series win on Indian soil, marking a significant accomplishment in their cricketing history. Now, with the toss in their favor, New Zealand aims to secure a series sweep by maintaining control throughout this final Test.
For India, ranked at the top of the WTC Standings, this match holds critical significance. Despite their strong standing, India must perform well in this fixture to retain their dominance, with an eye on securing a spot in the WTC Final. The inclusion of Mohammed Siraj, who steps in for Bumrah, alongside key players like Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, highlights India’s determination to mount a competitive response to New Zealand’s advantage.
The teams for the final Test are as follows:
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj.
New Zealand: Tom Latham (c), Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Ajaz Patel, Will O’Rourke.
With New Zealand eager to cap off a historic series victory and India aiming to salvage pride on home soil, the final Test promises high stakes and an intense contest at Mumbai’s iconic stadium.