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5 Interesting Facts About Wankhede Stadium Before 3rd IND vs NZ Test Match

Bhargav Dixit

India beat New Zealand by 372 runs in Mumbai three years ago. [Source: @BCCI/X]India beat New Zealand by 372 runs in Mumbai three years ago. [Source: @BCCI/X]

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The third Test match of New Zealand’s tour of India 2024 will be played at the Wankhede Stadium tomorrow onwards. Been criticized left, right and centre lately, India not only have their reputation but crucial World Test Championship points also on stake. Furthermore, no team would ever mind a victory days before leaving for Australia for a five-match Test series.

New Zealand, on the other hand, have stayed true to their perpetual underrated status in spite of both outthinking and outplaying India in this series without much ballyhoo.

With them already gaining an unassailable 0-2 lead, they now have an opportunity to become the first team to whitewash India in a Test series played in India since 2000. Assuming they’re able to do so, it will be their third such instance against this opposition. Interestingly, it will only be the first time since 1969 when India would have lost four home Tests in a calendar year.

Below are five similar interesting facts about the Wankhede Stadium:

Rohit Sharma Will Be Playing A Mumbai Test After 12 Years

Set to play his 64th Test from November 1, India captain Rohit Sharma has played only one Test at his home ground, i.e., the iconic Wankhede Stadium. In what was the second match of Sharma's Test career, he hasn't played a Test here since 2013.

While Sharma had missed the 2016 Test against England due to a thigh injury, he was rested for the 2021 Test against the Kiwis as it was played after the ICC T20 World Cup that year. It is needless to say that the 37-year-old player will be leading India in a Mumbai Test for the first time on Friday.

Ravindra Jadeja Will Be Playing His Second Wankhede Test

In spite of debuting 11 months before Sharma and playing 13 Tests more than him, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has also played only one Test in the city. While the southpaw missed the 2013 Test against West Indies due to a shoulder strain, he didn't play the 2021 Test against New Zealand because of a forearm injury.

No Room For Drawn Tests

Since the start of 2000, only one out of the 10 Tests played here have resulted in a draw. Since 2011, all four Tests played at this ground have resulted in an outright result.

A Frequent Destination For New Zealand

Set to play a Test match at this stadium for the fourth time, New Zealand will be participating in their seventh Mumbai Test. While they played three matches at the Brabourne Stadium between 1955-1969, they've played another three at the Wankhede since 1976.



The only other Indian Test venues where they've played four Tests in the past are Green Park, (Kanpur) and M. Chinnaswamy Stadium (Bengaluru). Speaking particularly of Asian cities, only Karachi (8) and Lahore (7) have hosted the Kiwis more times in Test cricket until today.

New Zealand's Second Test Win In India Had Come At The Wankhede Stadium

Before the start of this series, New Zealand had won only two out of their 36 Tests in India. In 1988, one out of those two victories had come at the Wankhede Stadium.