IND vs NZ, 2nd Test: Siraj, Kuldeep And KL Rahul Rested By India As New Zealand Bat First
![Rohit Sharma and Tom Latham [Source: @ESPNcricinfo/x.com]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1729740769814_ind_nz.jpg?im=Resize=(650,450))
Rohit Sharma and Tom Latham [Source: @ESPNcricinfo/x.com]
India is all set to take on New Zealand in the second Test of the three-match series, which will be played at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune.
Team Preview: India
India faced a humiliating and shocking defeat in the first match of the series at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. New Zealand took advantage of that game in the first innings by bundling out the home team for just 46 runs.
Even though they made a brilliant comeback in the second match, it was not enough for them to win the game. Rohit Sharma and his men will look for a strong comeback in this match. With a spot in the WTC final on the line, Team India will be eager to put on their best performance in this game and level the series.
Team Preview: New Zealand
New Zealand won their first Test in India after 36 years during the first game. The aim for the visitors will now be to win their first-ever Test series in India. Tom Latham has registered his name in the history books, being only the third captain to win a Test in India. He now has the opportunity to get his name etched as the first-ever captain to win a Test series in India.
Pitch Report - MCA Stadium, Pune
Here is the Pitch Report by Simon Doull and Dinesh Karthik
"The magnificent MCA Stadium in Pune is hosting the second Test match. Good news is the weather and it's so much better than it was there in Bengaluru. Little bit of rain around and the outfield is a bit damp but it will be okay to start on time. Dinesh Karthik alongside me. Tell me the difference between Bengaluru and here and what you see."
Karthik: "First up, the color of the pitch remains the same. Black soil both in Bengaluru and Pune. The difference is that this is local black soil. The amount of clay and moisture retention is a lot more. The pitch is interesting one. Where we are standing, there is a lot of live grass which is how the normal black soil pitches are. As you move to the good length area where the spinners will be in action, it is lot more dry and devoid of grass.
You'll see a distinct difference between those two areas which will tell me two things - A, team winning the toss should bat first and B, there should be enough assistance for the spinners to work with." Doull: "Challenges might be slightly different from Bengaluru with the brand-new ball but there will be more spin and less seam. But you have to bat well."
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IND vs NZ, 2nd Test: Toss Result
New Zealand have won the toss and they will bat first.
IND vs NZ 2nd Test: Playing XIs
New Zealand Playing XI: Tom Latham (c), Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Tom Blundell (wk), Mitchell Santner, William O'Rourke, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel
India Playing XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah
IND vs NZ 2nd Test: Team Changes
New Zealand: 1 change - Mitchell Santner comes in place of Matt Henry (glute niggle).
India: 3 changes - Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar and Akash Deep replace KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj.
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