The IND vs NZ 2nd Test in Pune will most likely have a slow and turning pitch, reports have stated. Rohit Sharma and co. will be eyeing redemption after losing the 1st Test in Bengaluru. The game between India and New Zealand will be the third Test to be played at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) stadium in Pune.
Slow, turning pitch in Pune for IND vs NZ 2nd Test
As per ESPNCricinfo, the pitch is expected to have lesser bounce in comparison with Bengaluru and is likely to be flatter and slower. The surface is packed predominantly with black soil. The slow nature of the surface provides room for India to accommodate three spinners in their playing XI. The addition of Washington Sundar to the squad is also justified, given the pitch that India is expected to play on in Pune. India played three spinners in Bengaluru – Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav.
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The very first match that happened at the stadium in Pune – India vs Australia in 2016 – saw the ICC match referee Chris Broad rate the pitch as poor. Australia defeated the hosts by a mammoth 333-run margin with Steve O Keefe bagging 12 wickets. 31 out of the 40 wickets that fell in the match were taken by spinners.
As per the report, the surface is expected to have literally no grass, with seam movement expected to be minimal in the 1st session of play on Day 1. Given the slow nature of the surface, the team winning the toss is likely to bat first.
India squad for IND vs NZ 2nd Test
Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Washington Sundar
