Veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has picked Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant as India’s most important players on Day 3 of the third Test against New Zealand in Mumbai. He added that the other batters will have an uphill task if they fail to do well. However, India took a 28-run lead in the first-innings as they were bundled out for 263 on Saturday, November 2, in response to New Zealand’s 235 as well. The Kiwis
ended Day 2 at 171/9, with a lead of 143 runs as well.

During a discussion on Colors Cineplex, Chopra said, “Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant. They are the two players on whom I am totally reliant. It will be enjoyable until they are there. However, if something goes wrong there, the others will have to work very hard. I will only say that the left-handed batters will be very important. I said that in the last match as well and it’s the same here too. If a left-handed batter plays long, India will chase this target.”

In the same discussion, Aakash Chopra also opined on whether India should adopt an aggressive or conservative approach.

“This series started with our examination against pace. We failed in that. This series will end with our examination against spin, which we need to pass. An important factor is what India have done thus far. When you were behind in Bengaluru, you knew 356 runs were very far, so let’s go and attack. In the second match, you were so far behind, so you said let’s attack. Can you play with that same approach when you know that the total is small? However, for how long will you go because there is a lot of help on the pitch? So it’s going to be a tough one. It’s going to be a good examination of both our youngsters and experienced players,” Aakash Chopra concluded.