The pitch of the second Test between India and New Zealand in Pune could be a slow turner. According to a report by ESPN, black clay has been used for the pitch. Due to this, Pune may see less surge as compared to Bengaluru. The Pune Test will start from October 24.
Coming off a loss in the first Test match in Bengaluru, the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team is under pressure to clinch the series and stake a strong claim to the World Test Championship (WTC) final. For this it is necessary for India to win the next two Test matches against New Zealand.
Clouds and rain marred the game in Bengaluru Indian team may field with three spinners in Pune. In such a situation, once again Ravichandran can play with the trio of Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav.
The team had devised a similar strategy for Bengaluru, but the overcast conditions and intermittent rains made the M Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch a boon for the fast bowlers in the first two days. Due to this India was all out for 46 runs in the first innings.
The first day's play in Bengaluru was washed out by rain.
So far 2 Test matches have been played in Pune This will be the third Test to be played at the Maharashtra Cricket Stadium (MCA), Pune. The first Test of 2016-17 was played here in which Australia beat India by a huge margin of 333 runs before the T-break on the third day. There were small cracks in the pitch of this match and the pitch started to turn from the first day itself. The spinners took 31 out of 40 wickets in the match, after which match referee Chris Broad called the pitch weak.
The second Test in Pune was played between India and South Africa in 2019, in which Virat Kohli scored a double century and scored 254 runs. India won this match by an innings and 137 runs. In this match too, the spinners started getting turns from the first day.
According to the report, the movement of the seam from the pitch will end around an hour after the toss. Due to dry surface, reverse swing can be found here. In such a situation the toss can once again become important. The team winning the toss may choose to bat first.
India's highest score at the Maharashtra Cricket Stadium is 601 runs So far 2 matches have been held in Maharashtra Cricket Stadium. In which India has scored the most and least runs. The highest score is 601 runs which India scored in the first innings against South Africa in 2019, while the lowest score is 105 runs which India scored against Australia in 2017.
Washington Sundar was included in the Indian team for the second and third matches The Indian team has changed its squad for the second and third matches of the Test series against New Zealand. All-rounder Washington Sundar has been included in the squad. BCCI gave this information on Sunday. Sundar will join the team in Pune before the second Test. The Indian team lost by 8 wickets in the first match of the three-match Test series against New Zealand. The team already has three spinners, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav.
Washington Sundar has played 4 Tests for India.
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