The Indian cricket team is gearing up to take on New Zealand in the 2nd Test match, looking to bounce back from their disappointing loss in the first Test. The match, which is being played at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, has seen New Zealand make a strong start, with Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra unbeaten at lunch on Day 1.
A Strong Start for New Zealand
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first, with Tom Latham and Devon Conway opening the innings. The pair made a solid start, with Conway looking particularly impressive as he scored 47 runs off 105 balls. However, the Indian bowlers were able to make a breakthrough, with Ravichandran Ashwin dismissing Latham for 15 runs.
Ashwin Strikes Again
Ashwin struck again soon after, dismissing Will Young for 18 runs. However, Conway and Ravindra were able to steady the ship, with the pair adding 44 runs for the third wicket. Conway was unbeaten on 47 runs at lunch, with Ravindra on 5 runs.
India Looks to Make a Comeback
The Indian team will be looking to make a comeback in the match, after their disappointing loss in the first Test. The team has made three changes to their playing XI, with Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar, and Akash Deep coming in for KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, and Mohammed Siraj.
A Crucial Match for India
The 2nd Test match is a crucial one for India, as they look to level the series and keep their hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship final alive. The team will be looking to their experienced players, such as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, to make a big impact in the match.
New Zealand Looks to Seal the Series
On the other hand, New Zealand will be looking to seal the series and make history by winning their first Test series in India since 1988. The team has been in good form, with players such as Conway and Ravindra making significant contributions.
The Pitch and Weather Conditions
The pitch at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium is expected to assist the spinners, with the Indian team likely to rely heavily on their spin attack. The weather conditions are expected to be warm and sunny, with a high of 32 degrees Celsius.
The Squads
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah
New Zealand: Tom Latham (c), Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Glenn Phillips, Tim Southee, Mitchell Santner, Ajaz Patel, William O’Rourke
The Match Schedule
The match is scheduled to start at 9:30 am IST, with the lunch break at 12:00 pm IST. The tea break will be at 2:30 pm IST, with the match scheduled to end at 5:00 pm IST.