IND vs NZ 2nd Test – Wankhede pitch: ‘It will be rank turner’, ‘it is a green top’ – two days ahead of the 2nd Test and series decider, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has confused both Team India and Kane Williamson’s New Zealand. Even though the teams are set to train at the Wankhede, a rainy day in Mumbai on Wednesday means, both the teams will be able to take a closer look at the pitch only a day before the match. Hence, Virat Kohli and Williamson will have to decide on the combination only on Thursday. Follow India vs New Zealand Test series Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
During the first phase of IPL 2021, the Wankhede pitch offered seam movement during the powerplay and proved to be batting heaven with 221 being the highest score in the 10 matches played there. However, the pitch hasn’t been used since April and with rain over the last three days, even a little bit of grass could help seamers early on, meaning both Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson will be tempted to go with three seamers instead of two like it was the case in Kanpur.
IND vs NZ 2nd Test: Under wraps, mysterious Wankhede pitch set to raise selection headache of Team India & Kiwis
The last time India played at the Wankhede Stadium in a Test match was back in 2016 against England with the hosts pulling off an innings and 36-run victory. In that match, Ravichandran Ashwin returned with 12 wickets and if the history is anything to go by, it is expected to offer turns from Day 3 while aiding batsmen to put up huge scores.
IND vs NZ 2nd Test: Under wraps, mysterious Wankhede pitch set to raise selection headache of Team India & Kiwis
IND vs NZ 2nd Test: How will the Wankhede pitch behave?
- With three days of rain, the pitch is under cover. As it will be a cloudy day in Mumbai on Thursday, it is expected that the pitch will retain some moisture, aiding seamers at least on Day 1.
- The mystery is whether there is grass on the pitch or not. If the pitch is still grassy, even if the grass is cut and the pitch is rolled on, there will not be enough time for it to dry up, helping seamers early on.
- However, if the pitch doesn’t have a tinge of green patch and is already dry, the moisture will force it to have an uneven bounce on the first day.
- If the sun comes up shining on Thursday, the Wankhede pitch will have a day to dry up and that could result in assisting spinners.
- As Virat Kohli will return to lead, he could be forced to play with three seamers, dropping a spinner to the bench and the call will be a big one as all three spinners did extremely well in the Kanpur Test.
- For Kane Williamson, he will have to take a call on Neil Wagner whether he is going to come back to the playing XI or play all three spinners.
IND vs NZ 2nd Test: Under wraps, mysterious Wankhede pitch set to raise selection headache of Team India & Kiwis
IND vs NZ 2nd Test: What is the record at Wankhede?
India’s record at the Wankhede, India’s so-called home of cricket is mixed. In 25 Tests, Team India have won 11 while they have lost 7 games at the venue with the seven others ending in draws. However, India will be looking to extend their winning run at Wankhede having thrashed their opponents at the venue in the last two matches by a big margin.
In the last Test match, Virat Kohli, who is struggling with his form, hammered 235 against England.
Highest Individual score: 242*, Clive Lloyd
Best Bowling: 7/48 shared between Ian Botham and Harbhajan Singh
Highest Team total: 631, India vs England (2016)
Lowest Team total: 93, Australia vs India (2004)
Highest run chase: 164/6, South Africa vs India (1999)
IND vs NZ 2nd Test: Under wraps, mysterious Wankhede pitch set to raise selection headache of Team India & Kiwis
| Result | Margin | Toss | Bat | Opposition | Date |
| lost | 201 runs | lost | 2nd | v West Indies | 23-Jan-75 |
| won | 162 runs | won | 1st | v New Zealand | 10-Nov-76 |
| draw | – | won | 1st | v England | 11-Feb-77 |
| draw | – | lost | 1st | v West Indies | 01-Dec-78 |
| won | inns & 100 runs | won | 1st | v Australia | 03-Nov-79 |
| won | 131 runs | won | 1st | v Pakistan | 16-Dec-79 |
| lost | 10 wickets | won | 1st | v England | 15-Feb-80 |
| won | 138 runs | won | 1st | v England | 27-Nov-81 |
| draw | – | won | 1st | v West Indies | 24-Nov-83 |
| won | 8 wickets | lost | 2nd | v England | 28-Nov-84 |
| draw | – | lost | 2nd | v Australia | 15-Oct-86 |
| draw | – | won | 1st | v West Indies | 11-Dec-87 |
| lost | 136 runs | lost | 2nd | v New Zealand | 24-Nov-88 |
| won | inns & 15 runs | lost | 2nd | v England | 19-Feb-93 |
| won | 96 runs | won | 1st | v West Indies | 18-Nov-94 |
| draw | – | lost | 1st | v Sri Lanka | 03-Dec-97 |
| lost | 4 wickets | won | 1st | v South Africa | 24-Feb-00 |
| lost | 10 wickets | lost | 1st | v Australia | 27-Feb-01 |
| won | inns & 112 runs | won | 1st | v West Indies | 09-Oct-02 |
| won | 13 runs | won | 1st | v Australia | 03-Nov-04 |
| lost | 212 runs | won | 2nd | v England | 18-Mar-06 |
| draw | – | lost | 2nd | v West Indies | 22-Nov-11 |
| lost | 10 wickets | won | 1st | v England | 23-Nov-12 |
| won | inns & 126 runs | won | 2nd | v West Indies | 14-Nov-13 |
| won | inns & 36 runs | lost | 2nd | v England | 08-Dec-16 |
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