Pune: Series and reputation at stake, Team India will look to make amends in the second Test against New Zealand starting on Thursday, October 24 at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium. The Asian Giants slumped to a humiliating 8-wicket defeat in the opening Test in Bengaluru last week, and the primary issue to address would be to avoid repeating the mistakes from the first Test.
The home side was bundled out for 46 – their lowest total on home soil in the Bengaluru Test and not even a spirited fightback led by Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan in the second innings could save them from losing a home Test against the Kiwis for the first time in 36 years.
The Bengaluru loss was nothing but a reality check for India, who came into the series on the back of a record-extending 18th successive series win at home courtesy of a 2-0 whitewash of Bangladesh.
Not tested enough by the Bangladeshis, India crumbled against the quality pace attack of the Kiwis and the class of Rachin Ravindra.
Poor decision-making, lack of common sense and strange selection calls compounded the misery for Rohit Sharma’s men.
After getting the measure of the Kiwis, India will be aiming to show their full might in Pune to stay alive in the series but to do so, they must fix some burning issues.
New ball woes
The biggest concern for India going into the second Test would be the new-ball threat posed by Kiwi pacers, who ran riot in Bengaluru. Fast bowlers proved to be thorns in India’s flesh, picking up 17 out of 20 wickets including all 10 in the first innings.
Indian batters were blown away by Kiwi pacers in Bengaluru Test. (Image: PTI)
Indian batters fell like a pack of cards against the new ball, losing 17 wickets for 108 runs to the first and the third new balls. In between they scored 400 for 3 in 80 overs showing their authority when the ball lost its shine.
While the track in Pune is expected to offer help to the spinners, the new ball is expected to swing initially. Indian batters should trust their defence and play sensibly to negate the new-ball threat.
Flexibility
Ahead of the series opener, India head coach Gautam Gambhir said that he wants a team that can score 400 runs in a day and can also bat for 2 days to save a Test match as well when the situation demands. India showed their aggressive template against Bangladesh and in the second innings of the Bengaluru Test against the Kiwis.
The World Test Championship (WTC) table toppers should walk the talk and show their flexibility when there is a need to soak the pressure. The shot selection of several instances from the Indian batters was poor, to say the least, in the first Test and a quick turnaround is only possible when the players put a price on their wickets.
Decision-making
While it’s brave when a captain publicly admits to making a mistake, it also shows how costly can lack of common sense and game awareness could prove. After opting to bowl first in pace-friendly conditions and replacing a pacer with a spinner in the playing XI of the Bengaluru Test, Rohit himself admitted that he made some strategic mistakes during and before the clash which cost India the game.
“It was my misjudgement to bat first. I was expecting a flat pitch, but I couldn’t read the pitch well,” said Rohit in the post-match press conference.
Rohit Sharma reacts on the second day of the first test cricket match between India and New Zealand, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (PTI)
Both the coach and captain need to read the conditions perfectly in Pune before deciding on the team combination and making the call at the coin toss in case Rohit wins it.
A small lapse in judgement could lead to a disaster for the home side who can’t afford any more slip-ups in their pursuit of a third successive WTC final.
Familiar territory
Ahead of the Pune Tes, India find themselves in a familiar position. They have a history of bouncing back after going one down in the series. Most recently, India staged a fightback after losing the opening Test against England in Hyderabad by 28 runs earlier this year. Despite trailing 0-1, India bounced back brilliantly to win the series 4-1.
The scenario was almost similar on England’s previous tour to India in 2021 when the visitors took a 1-0 lead with a 227-run in the first Test in Chennai. Despite the early setback, India responded strongly, winning the next three Tests to secure a 3-1 series victory.
Fans would hope the Pune Test would be a launchpad for another fightback.
