Live Score India vs New Zealand 3rd Test Day 3: Rishabh Pant scores fifty to lead India's chase

India vs New Zealand Live Score 3rd Test Day 3: India's quest for a consolation win to avoid an embarrassing 3-0 series whitewash against New Zealand suffered a major setback on the third day of the final Test at the Wankhede Stadium. Chasing a modest target of 147, India were left reeling at 92/6 at lunch, with Rishabh Pant putting up a one-on-one with 53 not out.

New Zealander Ajaz Patel wreaked havoc on the Indians' top order, claiming four crucial wickets as the hosts struggled to cope with the spin-friendly conditions. Patel's brilliant performance brought New Zealand within touching distance of a historic series win.

India's innings got off to a shaky start as captain Rohit Sharma, enduring a difficult series, scored just 11 after hitting a throw from Matt Henry into the lay-out. Patel then delivered the decisive blow, dismissing Shubman Gill, who had top-scored with 90 in the first innings. Gill's attempt to leave a throw resulted in the ball crashing into his stumps and he was bowled back for just 1.

Virat Kohli, who had a disappointing series with the bat, fell for 1 soon after, displacing Patel, who slipped up in what has been a lackluster campaign for the Indian talisman so far. Kohli's failure left India struggling at 18/3, increasing the pressure on the remaining batters.

The problems deepened when Yashasvi Jaiswal was caught lbw by Glenn Phillips for 5, followed by Sarfaraz Khan, who fell for 1 after hitting a full throw from Patel straight to deep midwicket. Patel's four-wicket haul left India reeling at 44/5.

Ravindra Jadeja provided brief resistance alongside Pant, adding 42 runs for the sixth wicket before a brilliant diving catch from Will Young put an end to Henry Jadeja's innings and left India in dire straits at 71/6.

Pant remained defiant and reached his half-century in style while Washington Sundar provided support with a consistent 6* as India went to lunch still needing 55 runs for victory with just four wickets in hand.

Earlier in the morning, India wasted little time in bringing New Zealand's second innings to a close, with Ravindra Jadeja taking the final wicket to complete a five-wicket haul (5-55), adding to his five-wicket haul in the first innings contributed.

New Zealand, which secured its first Test series win on Indian soil since 1955, dominated throughout, winning the first Test in Bengaluru by eight wickets and the second Test in Pune by 113 runs. This series win ended India's 18-year unbeaten Test series streak at home, dating back to a loss to England in 2012.

If India fails to pull off a dramatic turnaround, it could be their first home series whitewash since 2000, when they were defeated 2-0 by South Africa. With a challenging tour of Australia on the horizon, India will be desperate for a morale-boosting victory. Pant's resilience will be crucial as the hosts look to avoid further humiliation.