India vs New Zealand, 2nd Test Day 3 Stats Review: Ravi Ashwin's sensational 2021 continues as hosts' victory looks inevitable

Mayank Agarwal continued his solid form as he notched up another 50 plus score of this Test. Agarwal scored 62 as all top four Indian batters chipped in with valuable runs to help India set a daunting target of 540 for the Kiwis. The out-of-form Cheteshwar Pujara too contributed as he scored 47. Shubman Gill once again missed out on a fifty as he also got out on the same score of 47. Virat Kohli, who was controversially given out LBW in the first innings, made 36 before getting bowled by Rachin Ravindra.

Axar Patel played an aggressive knock of 41 runs in just 26 balls as he cleared the ropes four times. For Kiwis, the best bowler was once again the super star of the first innings Ajaz Patel as he took four scalps in the second innings. He got Agarwal, Pujara and Iyer again as Rachin Ravindra with his spin bowling also took three wickets with the big one of captain Virat Kohli. As the lead reached 539 runs, captain Kohli decided to declare the innings setting a humongous target of 540 for the Blackcaps.

Chasing the huge total, Tom Latham fell prey to R Ashwin again as the latter took his wicket for the eighth time in Tests and sixth time in India. R Ashwin was the chief destroyer once again for the home team as he ended the day with three scalps achieving 50 wickets in 2021 in the process. For WTC winners, Daryl Mitchell did show some fight as he scored a half-century.

Axar Patel finally took his wicket as New Zealand ended the day three on 140/5 with Henry Nicholls still showing some guts with 36 not out off 86 deliveries. With two days remaining, the match and the series looks all but over as India will be looking to continue their home dominance in Tests by finishing the Test on day four itself. For New Zealand, it will be a match to remember only for Ajaz Patel’s heroic stuff of 10 wickets in the first innings.

Meanwhile, here are the stats and numbers from India vs New Zealand, second Test Day 3:

109 – Ross Taylor scored 109 runs in 10 innings in 2016 and 2021 series combined against India in India.

51 – R Ashwin now has now taken 51 wickets in Tests in 2021. He has the most wickets this year with Shaheen Afridi second in the list with 44 scalps.

6 – R Ashwin has gotten Tom Latham 6 times out in Tests in India. He has only dismissed Kieran Powell (6), Alastair Cook (7) and Ben Stokes (9) more times in home Tests.

8 – R Ashwin dismissed Tom Latham for the eighth time in Tests. He has Ben Stokes (11), David Warner (10) and Alastair Cook (9) times out overall in Tests.

37 – R Ashwin has now taken 37 wickets in Tests at Wankhede. He is just one wicket behind Anil Kumble (38).

14/225 – Ajaz Patel became the bowler with best figures against India in Tests, 14/225. He surpassed Ian Botham’s record of 13/106 again.

14/225 – Ajaz Patel’s figures are best by any New Zealand spinner in a Test. He overtook Daniel Vettor’s feat of 12/149 against Australia in 2000.

2 – Ajaz Patel’s figures in the Mumbai Test is the second-best by any Kiwi. Sir Richard Hadlee holds the record of 15/123 which he achieved against Australia in 1985.

212 – Mayank Agarwal’s runs in this Test. Only Sunil Gavaskar (278) is ahead of him for opener scoring most runs in a Test at Wankhede.

36 – Axar Patel now has taken 36 scalps in five Tests played so far. Only Narendra Hirwani has taken most wickets (37) by an Indian in first five Tests.