IND vs NZ 3rd Test: Team India has faced a shocking defeat in home Test series against New Zealand. The Kiwis defeated the host side back-to-back matches, first in Bengaluru, then at Pune’s Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium. Rohit Sharma led team India has been performing well throughout the World Test Championship 2025 (WTC 2025). They were also the favorite to win the three match test series against NZ. Tom Latham’s team now leading the series 2-0, one match to remain at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium.
India need to get back in the winning way to regain their confidence before Australia tour, where India and Australia will face off with each other in the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a five-match bilateral Test series. Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has urged senior cricketers to “step up and deliver.”
Pathan said on his ‘X’ (previously known as Twitter), “Well done, New Zealand, on winning the series on Indian soil! For Team India, there’s a lot to reflect on. Senior players need to step up and deliver in the ultimate format of the game. The next three months will be crucial for them.”
India’s next Test assignment will be against the Australian side, but before that, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s team India needs to win the remaining match of the three test match series against the Blackcaps. Irfan Pathan’s comment is very clear; he addressed the senior players. Captain Rohit Sharma, former skipper Virat Kohli, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Jasprit Bumrah are the seniors in the Indian Test squad.
Jasprit, maintaining his form, has taken some wickets against New Zealand as well. Ashwin, who was ignored by the captain in a crucial moment, also did his job removing some NZ batters. Rohit, Virat, and Jadeja need to “step up and deliver,” as Irfan Pathan said. India’s next match against New Zealand will be November 1 to November 5 at Wankhede.