Kyle Jamieson's five-wicket haul helped New Zealand bundled out India for 217 in 1st innings.
Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra feels that New Zealand is under a bit more pressure than India despite dominating Day 3 of the WTC 2021 final.
Resuming on the overnight total of 146/3, Team India didn’t have the best of Day 3 as the Kiwi pacer Kyle Jamieson was all over the Indian team and removed skipper Virat Kohli early in the day as he failed to add to his overnight tally of 44 runs.
To worsen things more, the lanky pacer jolted India further with the wicket of Rishabh Pant and then later completed his five-wicket haul as Virat Kohli led-side slipped from 149 for 3 to 217 all-out.
New Zealand opener Devon Conway and Tom Latham gave their team a solid opening start, scoring 70 runs for the opening partnership as Indian pacers struggled to find a swing. At stumps on Day 3, New Zealand was 101/2 in Southampton.
Previewing the match scenario at the end of Day 3, former Indian batsman Aakash Chopra said that New Zealand could suffer the same collapse on Day 4 as India did on the third day.
"They (New Zealand) also have to look at where India was. They were 146 for 3, two set batsmen but come next morning, it's a different world altogether. The ball is moving again, you find the edges, India's tail hasn't wagged, the middle-order has collapsed and you haven't reached where you wanted to reach. Similar things can unfold tomorrow as well," Aakash Chopra told Star Sports.
Chopra said that New Zealand will know they are not out of the woods yet despite a dominant performance with both the bat and the ball and they need to have at least a 150-run lead if they want to seal the advantage of bowling first.
He feels that New Zealand has more pressure on them as compared to India.
"So from a New Zealand point of view, they know they are not out of the woods at all. Keep in mind, the moment you bowl first, you have to bat last and you have to bat the opposition out. So a 30-40 run lead is insignificant.
“You have to take at least a 150-run lead to make a match of it, seal the advantage of bowling first. I actually feel there is more pressure on New Zealand as compared to India. India will be backing themselves,” he said.
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Aakash Chopra further said that things might change quickly as R Ashwin can be a big threat with the ball because he’s getting a bit of a turn. He added that swing is the only area where Indian pacers struggled on Day 3 and if find that on Day 4 then the match will swing in India’s favor.
"Things might change, Ashwin has already got a wicket. He is getting a bit of turn. Swing is the only area where Indian bowlers are lagging behind, not the discipline nor the effort.
“Ishant was the only Indian bowler who was able to swing. Tomorrow is the day where India fast bowlers need to find a swing. If they can do that, the match will swing in India's favor," he concluded.
(Star Sports inputs)