IND vs NZ Live: Tim Southee & Co inspect pitch – Ahead of the 2nd Test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Kane Williamson & Co finally got a chance to check the pitch. The Wankhede pitch has been under covers for the last three days to persistent rain in Mumbai. Even though India captain Virat Kohli said the pitch would help all bowlers, Tim Southee believes the pitch will offer swing to the bowlers. Follow India vs New Zealand series on InsideSport.IN.
The Wankhede Stadium has historically assisted spinners with a plethora of runs for the batsmen on the first three days. The last time India played at the venue (against England in 2016), India scored 631 runs while Ravichandran Ashwin’s 12-wicket haul in the match meant England were bowled out for just 195 in the second innings.
IND vs NZ Live: Tim Southee expects Wankhede pitch to offer swing as Kane Williamson & Co inspect pitch on rainy day – Check pics
“That’s something we have to adapt to. You try and assess the conditions as quickly as you can. With the covers on, it may offer more swing but who knows. I guess the wicket has been under covers for a while now. We have to see how that shapes up tomorrow. It’s a different challenge but we also have to factor in how the wicket would behave for the next five-six days. We have to adapt to it,” Tim Southee said at the pre-match press conference.
IND vs NZ Live: Tim Southee expects Wankhede pitch to offer swing as Kane Williamson & Co inspect pitch on rainy day – Check pics
But the conditions are different this time. Three days of rain in Mumbai meant the pitch has been under covers collecting moisture and the cloudy conditions will be ideal for seamers early on. Tim Southee will be expecting to get into the act while Kiwis are expected to add Neil Wagner to the playing XI.
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Similarly, Virat Kohli is also of the belief that Wankhede will be of its usual self providing batting heaven, he also feels that the weather conditions could play a key role.
“It looks like a typical Wankhede wicket, we expect it to have some nice bounce. There’s value for all kinds of bowlers at the Wankhede and when you bat well, you can get runs as well. So I think it’s a great wicket for good cricket, and as I said, all skillsets are in the play all the time. Which is a great position to be in, because then you know that you can utilise your resources very well and the team that does it better has more chances of winning the Test match,” Virat Kohli said at the pre-match press conference.
Like New Zealand, Virat Kohli is also in dilemma about adding an extra seamer to the Playing XI. If the conditions permit, Mohammed Siraj is in all likelihood will be back in Playing XI.
“So you go in with the knowledge that you can utilise your bowlers – whether it be fast bowlers, spinners, whoever it is – and your batsmen can find value in playing good shots, in being solid at the crease and still believing you can score runs,” Virat Kohli said.
IND vs NZ Live: Tim Southee expects Wankhede pitch to offer swing as Kane Williamson & Co inspect pitch on rainy day – Check pics
