IND vs NZ | 2nd Test: Uncertainty surrounding nature of pitch at Wankhede Stadium adds to intrigue

After the first Test between India and New Zealand produced a fascinating drawn game on what was rated a “sporting pitch”, there is a certain sense of intrigue about the nature of the pitch to be used in the second Test of the series. The Kanpur pitch did not offer excess turn to the spinners in stark contrast to the pitches in the England home series earlier this year.

The second Test of the series is scheduled to be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai from December 3 and there are conflicting reports on the nature of the surface at the venue.

One report indicates that the pitch will be a tailor-made surface for spinners where the ball will turn from the first day of the Test itself while the other report suggests that the surface will be greener from the outset to hold the soil together and prevent rapid deterioration. However, the surface is all likely to be dry in nature beneath the outer layer and should definitely be aiding spinners at some stage in the game.

“The pitch will help the spinners from day one,” The Indian Express quoted a Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) official as saying. “We are preparing the pitch looking at the home team’s strength.”

However, a TOI report suggested that “The pitch has a thick layering of grass. The ball won't turn much. The grass seems to have grown tall as no cricket has been played on the main three pitches at the Wankhede Stadium since the ODI between India and Australia in Jan 2020. Some of that grass will be cut away, but at this stage, when the Test match is just days away, you can't cut too much grass. As a result, they have stopped watering the pitch since Sunday."

Both India and New Zealand will be eager to win the final Test of the series after coming close to it in the first game. India will be buoyant by the return of Virat Kohli while the Blackcaps will be hoping the pitch in Mumbai favours more to pacers, who bowled remarkable spells on the somewhat docile pitch in Kanpur.