IND vs NZ 2nd Test - Spin to dominate as Pune Prepares Turning Track
Author: Vishnu Reddy
Updated At:
A slow, turning pitch is being prepared for the second Test between India and New Zealand, which starts this Thursday in Pune. According to sources, the pitch at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, predominantly composed of black soil, is expected to offer less bounce than the surface used in Bengaluru during the first Test. It is also set to be slower and flatter, which could favour India's spinners.
India, still reeling from a crushing defeat in the first Test where they were bowled out for a shocking 46 runs in the first innings—their lowest home total in Test cricket—are under pressure to bounce back. With the series at 1-0 in favour of New Zealand, Rohit Sharma's side must win this Test to keep their hopes alive in the three-match series and maintain their momentum in the race for the World Test Championship final set for June next year.
The strategy for the pitches in both Pune and Mumbai (where the final Test will be held on November 1) is similar: create turning tracks that provide assistance to India’s spin attack. However, there will be a key difference between the two venues. Pune's black soil will likely result in lower bounce, while Mumbai's red soil at Wankhede Stadium is expected to provide more of it.
In Bengaluru, conditions were originally intended to favour spin as well, but overcast skies and rain shifted the balance in favour of seamers, a factor that New Zealand capitalized on after Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bat.
Potential Challenges for Fast Bowlers
Despite the conditions in Pune, India is expected to field a spin-heavy lineup, potentially with three specialist spinners. The squad was bolstered by the surprise addition of Washington Sundar, bringing the total to 16 players. He joins a spin department already featuring R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav.
This will be only the third Test match held at Pune’s MCA Stadium. The first Test at the venue, in 2017, saw Australia win convincingly by 333 runs on a pitch that was heavily criticized by the ICC for its poor quality. The surface in that match quickly broke down, allowing spinners to dominate, as 31 of the 40 wickets fell to spin. In contrast, the most recent Test in Pune, in 2019, saw Virat Kohli score a double-century in an innings victory over South Africa.
The upcoming Test against New Zealand is expected to take place on a pitch virtually devoid of grass. While seam movement is likely to be minimal beyond the first hour of play, the dry surface could support reverse swing. Given the conditions, winning the toss will again be crucial, as both teams will likely prefer to bat first and take advantage of the early stability before the pitch starts deteriorating. This could be crucial as the betting odds offered by cricket betting sites are highly in favour of India.
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