India needs Mumbai Test win before Australia tour – Gautam Gambhir

Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir feels the Rohit Sharma-led team desperately needs to win the Mumbai Test against New Zealand before they jet off to Australia for the five-match Border-Gavaskar trophy. India lost the first two Test matches against the Kiwis, losing the opening Bengaluru Test by eight wickets and then suffering a 113-run loss at Pune.

India was the favorite to qualify for the World Test Championship final but these two losses have jolted their chances. Out of the remaining six Test matches, India needs to win at least four and draw one to confirm their berth in the WTC Final.

“We should try and win this Test match so that we can go to Australia with a win under our belt. It’s another great opportunity for people to do something special for the country. We very well know that we represent 140 crore Indians.

“It’s another opportunity because very few people get this opportunity and honour to represent the country in Test cricket,” Gambhir said in a pre-match presser.

Meanwhile, India returned with scores of 156 and 245 in the second Test at Pune as the track had assistance for the spinners. Gambhir refused to agree that Indian batters’ spin-negotiating skills have gone down and gave credit to Mitchell Santner, who bagged 13 wickets in the last game.

“I don’t think so,” Gambhir said.

“Sometimes you have to give it to the opposition as well. Mitchell Santner was outstanding in the last game. But yes, we’ll keep working hard, we’ll keep getting better. Guys are putting in a lot of hard yards in the nets.

“Ultimately it’s the results that matter when you’re playing international cricket but I don’t think that our skill against spin has actually gone down. It’s about probably keeping working hard and keeping getting better,” he added.

The third and final Test match between India and New Zealand will be played at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai from November 1 onwards.