India vs New Zealand: Abhishek Nayar Denies Pitch Manipulation Rumors
In Mumbai, ahead of the India-New Zealand Test at Wankhede Stadium, India’s assistant coach Abhishek Nayar addressed rumors about pitch manipulation. Nayar firmly denied these claims, stating that the team has no control over pitch preparation. He emphasized, “We wish we could curate the pitches, but we don’t. Curators do. As cricketers, we play on whatever is given to us.”
The Wankhede Stadium, known for its batting-friendly surface, will host the match. Nayar’s comments aim to assure fairness in the game. New Zealand recently made history by winning their first Test series in India, and they aim to continue their success. In the match, New Zealand batted first, with Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra scoring half-centuries, reaching 197/3. Ravichandran Ashwin took early wickets, but Washington Sundar’s 7/59 helped bowl NZ out for 259.
India struggled in response, with Rohit Sharma dismissed for a duck. Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal tried to stabilize, but Mitchell Santner and Glenn Phillips dismantled India’s batting, restricting them to 156. Ravindra Jadeja top-scored with 38. In their second innings, New Zealand extended their lead, with Tom Latham scoring 86. Sundar, Jadeja, and Ashwin took wickets, but NZ set a target of 359.
India started well in their chase, but after Jaiswal’s 77, they faltered against the Kiwi spinners, losing by 113 runs. This marked India’s first home series loss in 12 years. Santner took 13 wickets in the match, with Phillips and Ajaz Patel supporting.
Doubts Revealed
Abhishek Nayar -: Abhishek Nayar is a former Indian cricketer who played for the Indian national team. He is now working as an assistant coach, helping the team with strategies and training.
Pitch Manipulation -: Pitch manipulation refers to changing the cricket pitch conditions to favor one team over the other. It is considered unfair and against the spirit of the game.
Wankhede Stadium -: Wankhede Stadium is a famous cricket stadium located in Mumbai, India. It is known for hosting many important cricket matches, including international games.
Devon Conway -: Devon Conway is a cricketer from New Zealand who plays for their national team. He is known for his strong batting skills.
Rachin Ravindra -: Rachin Ravindra is a young cricketer from New Zealand. He is known for his all-round abilities, meaning he can both bat and bowl well.
Mitchell Santner -: Mitchell Santner is a cricketer from New Zealand who is known for his spin bowling. He played a key role in New Zealand’s victory by taking many wickets.