India vs New Zealand 2024 Test series: MCA Stadium, Pune pitch history and Test records
The second Test of the India vs New Zealand will begin tomorrow morning (October 24) at the MCA Stadium in Pune. New Zealand have a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. If they register another win over India, the Blackcaps will gain an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
To ensure New Zealand's pacers do not trouble their batters this time, the Indian team has reportedly decided to prepare a flat and low-bounce surface in Pune. Spinners and batters should dominate the proceedings in this Test.
Before the second Test match begins, here's a look at the pitch history and Test records of the MCA Stadium.
MCA Stadium, Pune Test records
Pune has hosted two Tests so far, with India having a 1-1 win-loss record. The last time this venue hosted a Test match was back in October 2019. India won that Test match against South Africa by an innings and 137 runs.
Indian fans will hope for a similar result when Rohit Sharma's men take on the Kiwis at the MCA Stadium. Here are some important stats to know from previous Tests hosted by Pune -
Test matches played: 2
Matches won by teams batting first: 2
Matches won by teams batting second: 0
Matches drawn: 0
Highest individual score: 254* - Virat Kohli (IND) vs South Africa, 2019
Best bowling (innings) - 6/35 - Steve O'Keefe (AUS) vs India, 2017
Best bowling (figures) - 12/70 - Steve O'Keefe (AUS) vs India, 2017
Highest team total: 601/5 dec - India vs South Africa, 2019
Lowest team total: 105 - India vs Australia, 2017
Average first innings score: 431
MCA Stadium, Pune pitch report
The pitch report for the second Test between India and New Zealand will be broadcast live before the two captains walk out for the toss. Generally, the pitch has been brilliant for batting, and the spinners come into play as the game progresses.
The captain winning the toss should prefer batting first because the average first-innings score is more than 400. Expect a batter and spinner-dominant game in Pune.
MCA Stadium, Pune last Test match
India crushed South Africa by an innings and 137 runs in the previous Test hosted by Pune. A magnificent double hundred from Virat Kohli powered the home side to 601/5 in the first innings. In response, South Africa managed 275 & 189 in their two innings to lose the match by a huge margin.
25 wickets fell in that Test match, with spinners bagging 12 of them.
Here's a summary of the Test:
Brief scores: India 601/5 dec (Virat Kohli 254*, Kagiso Rabada 3/93) beat South Africa 275 (Keshav Maharaj 72, Ravichandran Ashwin 4/69) & 189 (Dean Elgar 48, Umesh Yadav 3/22) by an innings and 137 runs.