In the second Test of the series between India and New Zealand, at Pune, the Kiwis won the toss and decided to bat first. New Zealand captain Tom Latham believed that the dry pitch at Pune was good enough for his side to play on. The team which won the toss was expected to opt for batting first as the pitch seemed to be spinner friendly right from the very beginning.
Pitch and Conditions
The pitch at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune is different from what we saw in Bengaluru in the first Test. Experts say that the surface here is drier and has less grass, so it would offer more spin right from the first day itself. The spinners are supposed to play keyrole in this game. This weather is hot in Pune, though some rain showers have been seen before the match. Shaving away a bit of grass to prepare the pitch means spinners are likely to enjoy the better in this match.
India’s Team and Playing XI
India has replaced three players in this test match. Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, and Kuldeep Yadav have been left out, and Akash Deep, Shubman Gill, and Washington Sundar have replaced them. According to Indian captain Rohit Sharma, they also preferred batting first if they have won the toss, they are focusing on improvement from the first Test. The Indian playing XI is still headlined by big names in Yashasvi Jaiswal,Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli, along with Rishabh Pant, while Jasprit Bumrah leads the pace attack. Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Washington Sundar are enough for the spin department, with some idea of twisting the drives on the turning pitch.
India’s Playing XI:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Rohit Sharma (captain)
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper)
- Sarfaraz Khan
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Washington Sundar
- Ravichandran Ashwin
- Akash Deep
- Jasprit Bumrah
New Zealand’s Team and Playing XI
New Zealand also made some changes to their team, which included Mitchell Santner for Matt Henry who was out due to a glute injury. New Zealand have gone in with a two-spinner combination of Santner and Ajaz Patel, who obviously exude confidence that turn might roll in. New Zealand captain Tom Latham believes the team has done well after winning the first game in Bengaluru and expects that to carry into the present encounter too. New Zealand are still batting the best even though they are missing Kane Williamson due to injury and it is primarily due to Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell who are playing their part.
New Zealand Playing XI:
- Tom Latham (Captain)
- Devon Conway
- Will Young
- Rachin Ravindra
- Daryl Mitchell
- Tom Blundell (Wicket Keeper)
- Glenn Phillips
- Mitchell Santner
- Tim Southee
- Ajaz Patel
- William O’Rourke
This is one of the Tests where both teams badly need a win. New Zealand will aim to continue their success form, while India hopes to bounce back and level the series. The dry pitch in Pune will attract much attention, particularly when the spinners play their part, so this is a contest not to be missed.
