New Delhi: Rohit Sharma-led India will be looking to halt New Zealand’s history-chasing run when they lock horns with each other in the 2nd Test of the ongoing three-match series at the MCA Stadium in Pune. New Zealand thrashed India by 8 wickets in the rain-affected series opener in Bengaluru on Sunday to go 1-0 up in the series and register a historic first Test victory in India after 36 years.
New Zealand will be eyeing more history in Pune as they have a chance to seal the series with a second win on the trot. A victory in Pune will see New Zealand clinch their first-ever Test series victory on Indian soil. The pressure will be on Rohit & Co. with history on the Kiwis’ side. India also desperately need to bounce back to winning ways to stay in the hunt for a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 final.
There are plenty of selection headaches for skipper Rohit and head coach Gautam Gambhir ahead of the 2nd Test as Shubman Gill is all set to return after missing the 1st Test due to a niggle. Gill is expected to return to his original no.3 spot which leaves KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan in a battle for a spot in the middle order.
While Rahul’s woeful run continued in the 1st Test with scores of 0 and 12 in the two innings, Sarfaraz slammed a brilliant knock of 150 runs, notching up his maiden ton in Test cricket. The 26-year-old Mumbai batter had replaced Gill in the XI and went on to repay the faith shown in him by the team management with a stupendous knock under pressure in India’s second innings.
Gambhir and Rohit will have a tough choice to make on who to drop between Rahul and Sarfaraz, however, the senior is expected to make the cut. During the pre-match pressure in Pune on Wednesday, Gambhir passionately defended Rahul and backed him to bounce back among the runs, hinting that India are looking to give the under-fire right-hander a long rope in the middle order.
Akash Deep in for Mohammed Siraj?
With a spin-friendly wicket expected in Pune, India are expected to retain the trio of R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI. However, a change is likely in the pacer attack with Mohammed Siraj expected to make way for Akash Deep. Siraj has been far from impactful in home Tests so far this year and struggled to create any sort of trouble for the Kiwi batters despite favourable conditions in Bengaluru.
He might get replaced by Akash Deep, who has been impressive in the handful of Test matches he has played so far after making his debut for India earlier this year. Akash Deep will partner Jasprit Bumrah in the pace attack with the premier pacer set to play his 4th Test on the trot. Gambhir on Wednesday said India will take a call on Bumrah’s workload management after the Pune Test.
India’s predicted XI for 2nd Test against New Zealand:
Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep
