In the second Test of the three-match series between India and New Zealand, New Zealand skipper Tom Latham won the toss and opted to bat first at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Thursday (October 24). India, trailing 1-0 after a surprising eight-wicket defeat in the first Test, find themselves in a must-win situation. The Rohit Sharma-led team needs a victory not only to level the series but also to maintain their 12-year home dominance and bolster their chances of securing a spot in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, with a tough Australian challenge looming ahead.
India’s bold changes for 2nd Test: No KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj
India made three significant changes to their playing XI in a bid to revive their fortunes. Shubman Gill returned to the side, replacing KL Rahul, who was dropped after a poor showing. Sarfaraz Khan, who impressed with a commanding 150 in the series opener, retained his spot, signaling a shift in India’s batting order.
In the bowling department, Akash Deep came in for Mohammed Siraj, who had been economical but struggled to take wickets in recent matches. The most surprising change was the inclusion of Washington Sundar over both Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel. Sundar’s selection was likely influenced by New Zealand’s left-handed batters, offering a strategic advantage with his off-spin, while also adding depth to India’s lower-order batting.
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Rohit Sharma’s emphasis during the toss
At the time of the toss, India captain Rohit emphasized the importance of the first 10-15 overs, acknowledging that early control could set the tone for the game. Reflecting on India’s loss in the first Test, Rohit highlighted the positives from their second-innings batting effort and stressed the need to bounce back quickly.
“I would have batted as well . Whatever the pitch is we have to play good cricket. Lot of positives. No matter what the situation of the game is, you always try and come back into the game. That is what we did. At the end, not a lot of runs on the board. A little drier [the pitch]. We do understand how important the first 10-15 overs. We have made three changes,” Rohit said.
New Zealand make one change
New Zealand, confident after their emphatic win, made just one change to their lineup. Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner replaced the injured Matt Henry, with the pitch in Pune expected to offer more spin. Captain Tom Latham acknowledged the different surface in Pune compared to the first Test and emphasized the importance of adapting quickly to the conditions.
“Surface slightly different to what it was last week. Not a lot of grass. It might produce a bit of spin, as we expect when we come to these parts of the world. It’s just about adapting to this surface,” Latham said, reflecting on the team’s confidence from their previous victory while staying focused on the task ahead.
Also READ: IND vs NZ, 2nd Test: Top 5 key battles to watch out for in Pune
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