In the second Test of the three-match series between India and New Zealand, New Zealand captain Tom Latham won the toss and elected to bat first at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. Trailing 1-0 after a surprising eight-wicket loss in the first Test, India find themselves in a must-win situation. The Rohit Sharma-led side need a win not only to level the series but also to maintain their 12-year home advantage and boost their chances of qualifying for the ICC World Test Championship final with a tough Australian challenge ahead.
India’s bold changes for 2nd Test: No KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj
India made three crucial changes in their 11th over to revive their fortunes. Shubman Gill returned to the side replacing the dropped KL Rahul after a poor showing. Sarfaraz Khan, who impressed with his commanding 150 in the series opener, kept his place by showing a change in India’s batting order.
In the bowling department, Akash Deep replaced Mohammed Siraj, who was 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 is likely to have been influenced by New Zealand’s left-handed batsmen, offering him a strategic edge with off-spin while adding depth to India’s lower-order batting.
Rohit Sharma’s highlight during the innings
During the toss, India captain Rohit Sharma stressed the importance of the first 10-15, admitting that early control can set the tone of the game. Reflecting on India’s first Test defeat, Rohit highlighted the positives of his batting effort in the second innings and stressed the importance of a quick comeback.
“I would fight too. Whatever the pitch, we have to play good cricket. Lots of positives. Regardless of the state of the game, you always try to get back into the game. We did it. Not many runs on the board in the end. A little drier (pitch). We understand how important the first 10-15 are. We made three changes” Rohit said.
New Zealand is making a difference
New Zealand, confident after their convincing win, made just one change to their squad. Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner has replaced the injured Matt Henry, with the Pune pitch expected to offer more spin. Captain Tom Latham acknowledged the different surface compared to the first Test in Pune and stressed the importance of adapting to the conditions quickly.
“The surface is a little different than last week. Not much grass. As we expect when we come to these parts of the world, it can cause a bit of a spin. It’s just about adjusting to this surface,” said Latham, reflecting the team’s confidence from their previous win as they focused on the task ahead.
The second Test promises to be a gripping contest as both teams battle for crucial momentum in the series.
