After the Bengaluru debacle, India look desperate to make a comeback in Pune before it gets too late in the three-match series against New Zealand. Moreover, the pressure to win 2-1 has now surmounted the hosts to stay ahead in the World Test Championship (WTC) final race. In order to do so, the tracks for the next two Tests – in Pune and Mumbai – are expected to remain low and slow, assisting majorly the Indian spinners.
According to ESPNcricinfo, the Pune track is expected to have lower bounce compared to the first Test in Bengaluru; it is much flatter and slower. The same was expected at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium as well, but the overcast conditions and repeated showers made the conditions favourable for the fast bowlers, which New Zealand used to bring India to their knees after they elected to bat first.
Meanwhile, the team management called up spin all-rounder Washington Sundar, who was part of the Tamil Nadu playing XI for the Ranji Trophy Round 2 fixture against Delhi at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Sundar’s inclusion indicates that India will once again deploy a spin-heavy attack against the Kiwis to jump back to winning ways.
The report further stated that the Pune pitch would be ‘devoid of grass’, offering minimal seam movement. However, the dry surface is likely to support reverse swing. Thus, the toss shall be crucial once again.
Third Test at Pune’s MCA Stadium
This is going to be the third Test at Pune’s Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium. The inaugural Test here was the opening game of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2016-17, which saw Australia crushing India by 333 runs. Left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe ran through the Indian batting order, scalping 12 wickets in the match. The pitch was rated poor by ICC match referee Chris Broad, as spinners picked up 31 out of 40 wickets in the match.
The next Test at this venue saw Virat Kohli smashing a double hundred against South Africa in 2019 as India registered a victory by an innings and 137 runs.
Comments
0 comment