India vs New Zealand 2024, 2nd Test: Toss result and playing XIs for today's match, umpires list and pitch report
India take on New Zealand in the second Test at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune starting Thursday, October 24. The hosts are 1-0 down in the three-match series. They need to win the second Test not only to stay alive in the series but also to boost their chances of qualifying for the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) at Lord's.
Rohit Sharma and company need to put behind what transpired in Bengaluru, but not without taking some harsh lessons from the defeat. Their decision to bat first despite all the moisture in the pitch backfired big time. And although India made a strong comeback with the willow in the second innings, it was not enough to prevent their first Test defeat at home against New Zealand in 36 years.
While the batters failed, India's bowlers also could not make much of an impact. Barring pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who does not need conditions to excel, the rest of the attack did not look penetrative. The hosts will expect a much better show from their spinners in Pune.
India vs New Zealand 2nd Test toss result
New Zealand have won the toss and have opted to bat first. Tom Latham commented:
“Looking at the surface, there's not a lot of grass. It might produce a bit of spin. We want [bat first and] to put up a good score on the board.”
Matt Henry misses out due to a glute niggle for the Kiwis, so Mitchell Santner comes in. India have made three changes to their playing XI. KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, and Kuldeep Yadav are out; Shubman Gill, Akash Deep, and Washington Sundar come in.
IND vs NZ 2nd Test match playing XIs
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (w), Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah
New Zealand: Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (w), Glenn Phillips, Tim Southee, Mitchell Santner, Ajaz Patel, William ORourke
IND vs NZ 2nd Test pitch report
In his pitch report, Dinesh Karthik said another black soil surface is in use. The former stumper, however, points out that this is local black soil and because of the amount of clay content, the moisture retention is a lot more. Looking at the good length area, where the spinners are going to be in action, it's dry and devoid of grass, he points out. From ball one, there should be enough assistance for the spinners, concludes Karthik.
IND vs NZ 2nd Test match players list
India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (wk), KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Dhruv Jurel
New Zealand squad: Tom Latham (c), Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Tom Blundell (wk), Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel, William O'Rourke, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Kane Williamson
IND vs NZ 2nd Test match umpires
On-field umpires: Paul Reiffel, Richard Illingworth
TV umpire: Michael Gough
Match Referee: David Boon