IND vs NZ 2nd Test 2024: MCA Stadium Pitch Likely To Be Slow Turner As India Look to Level Series in Pune

India have started the New Zealand Test series rather poorly as they have lost the first Test against the Kiwis unexpectedly in Bengaluru. Conditions played a big role in the defeat as India opted to bat first after the Day 1 was washed out and was rolled out for just 46. New Zealand took a considerable lead from there on and despite the best efforts from the Indian batters in the second innings, it was too big a distance to cover for the Men in Blue and in the end, they were handed a defeat by 8 wickets. 1-0 down in the series, India will want to make a turnaround and win the crucial second Test which will be played at Pune. IND vs NZ 2024: Washington Sundar Included in Team India’s Squad for Second and Third Tests Against New Zealand.

Ahead of the India vs New Zealand second Test at Pune, report from ESPNcricinfo has suggested that India are looking to prepare a slow turner to change the momentum of the series. The broad plan for the pitches in both Pune and Mumbai, where the final Test will be played from November 1, will be similar: more turn, thus allowing the Indian spinners to dominate. The one key difference between Pune and Mumbai, though, will be the bounce, due to the differences in the soil: black at Pune’s Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, and red at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. Rishabh Pant Shares Cryptic Instagram Story After India’s Eight-Wicket Defeat to New Zealand in Bengaluru Test.

According to ESPNcricinfo, It was meant to be similar in Bengaluru too, but overcast conditions coupled with intermittent rains, leading into and on the first two days, made the pitch at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium favourable for seamers, which New Zealand’s fast men used to their advantage once Rohit elected to bat. Sources suggest, the pitch against New Zealand is expected to be virtually devoid of grass. It is understood that while the seam movement is likely to be minimal outside of the first hour after the toss, the dry surface will support reverse swing. With the slowness of the surface and the lack of support for fast men, the toss once again becomes vital, with teams likely to want to bat first.

(The above story first appeared on Pune Media on Oct 21, 2024 08:49 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website Pune Media.com).

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