NZ Chose To Bat First, KL Rahul Opted Out , Gill Returns

October 24, 2024: New Zealand skipper Tom Latham won the toss and elected to bat first in the second Test of the three-match series against India at Pune’s Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium. With New Zealand leading the series 1-0, this match is crucial for Team India, who must win to preserve their 12-year home dominance and improve their chances of reaching the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) finals, especially with Australia on the horizon as their next challenge.

At the toss, Latham noted that the surface looked different compared to the previous Test, predicting that it could offer spin. New Zealand made one change, with Matt Henry missing out due to a glute niggle, and spinner Mitchell Santner coming into the side.

For India, skipper Rohit Sharma acknowledged that they would have liked to bat first as well, but emphasized the importance of adapting to the conditions and learning from the positives of the previous Test’s second innings. India made three changes, bringing in Shubman Gill, Akash Deep, and Washington Sundar for KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, and Kuldeep Yadav.

Playing XIs:

India:

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal
2. Rohit Sharma (c)
3. Shubman Gill
4. Virat Kohli
5. Rishabh Pant (w)
6. Sarfaraz Khan
7. Ravindra Jadeja
8. Washington Sundar
9. Ravichandran Ashwin
10. Akash Deep
11. Jasprit Bumrah

New Zealand:

1. Tom Latham (c)
2. Devon Conway
3. Will Young
4. Rachin Ravindra
5. Daryl Mitchell
6. Tom Blundell (w)
7. Glenn Phillips
8. Mitchell Santner
9. Tim Southee
10. Ajaz Patel
11. William O’Rourke

India will need to perform strongly, especially with a slightly dry pitch likely to assist spinners early in the game. With Washington Sundar making his first Test appearance since March 2021, all eyes will be on how both teams handle these conditions.