Photo Credit: Instagram Photo of @gautamgambhir55
After a loss in the first Test of the three-match series against New Zealand in Bengaluru, Rohit Sharma and his team now face a must-win situation in the second Test to keep their hopes of a series win alive and maintain an advantage in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings.
The second Test, beginning October 24 in Pune, is crucial for India’s goal of securing a spot in the WTC final without relying on other teams’ results.
With this important Test approaching, all eyes are on how the pitch will play. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma have been in regular discussions with the curators leading up to the match, closely observing the pitch preparations.
The Pune pitch is expected to offer slow turn, but recent rains in the area may have limited the time available for the groundsmen to prepare it as the team management prefers. However, the pitch has been shaved of grass, and recent sunny days have raised hopes for a dry, turning wicket, in line with Gambhir and Rohit’s preference for such conditions.
“I haven’t been out there myself yet, but rest assured we’re going to do everything in our capability to give the best assessment of that wicket. We got it slightly wrong in Bangalore the other day. The conditions just caught us on the back foot a little bit. So, you can be sure that the preparation and the assessment of the wicket is going to be as close to perfect as we can make it,” said India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate on Tuesday in the pre-match press conference.
In the first Test, India’s batting lineup faltered, bowled out for 46 in their first innings, and Rohit Sharma admitted to having misread the pitch.
Additionally, Team India was without Shubman Gill in the first Test due to a neck spasm, and Rishabh Pant sustained an injury while wicketkeeping. Both players have since recovered and are expected to be available for the second Test.
“He’s (Gill) batted last week in Bangalore, he had a few nets. He’s got a little bit of discomfort, but I think he will be good to go for the Test,” Ten Doeschate stated.
“Rishabh’s pretty good. I think Rohit (Sharma) touched on it the other day. He was having a little bit of discomfort at the end range of his movement with the knee. But fingers crossed he’ll be good to keep in this Test as well,” he added.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
