IND vs NZ: KL Rahul DROPPED! India playing 11 for 2nd test, Pune - Predicted

New Zealand won the first IND vs NZ test in Bengaluru by eight wickets.

For the second time this year, India have lost the first test of a home series and are now forced to play catch with two tests left in the IND vs NZ series.

New Zealand registered their third test match win on Indian soil and first since 1988 when they thumped the hosts by eight wickets in Bengaluru. Rachin Ravindra played the starring role for the Kiwis with the bat, while Matt Henry and William O’Rourke were the enforcers with the ball.

India had a few positives of their own in the batting department while a few other players were a letdown.

India are expected to make changes to their side for the second test, which will be played in Pune from October 24.

Here is India’s predicted XI for the 2nd IND vs NZ test in Pune:

1. Rohit Sharma (C)

After being dismissed for only two runs in the first innings in Bengaluru, Rohit cracked 52 runs off 63 balls in the second innings and was looking set for a big one, but got out to in an unfortunate manner.

His captaincy, in terms of the decision at the toss, team selection, and bowling changes, proved to be disastrous. With India’s winning streak of 11 years in home test series on the line, Rohit needs to step up both as a batsman and captain.

2. Yashasvi Jaiswal

Yashasvi Jaiswal, the leading run-scorer in the series against England and Bangladesh, fought for 63 balls in the first innings, but fell to an excellent catch from Ajaz Patel. In the second outing, he started well but threw away his wicket for 35 runs.

Jaiswal, in fact, was solid in India’s first innings while others stumbled, and would be looking for a hefty knock in Pune.

3. Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill missed the Bengaluru test due to neck stiffness and is expected to return in Pune. Rohit said after the loss that Gill “seems okay at this point of time” and the right-hander also practiced in the centre pitch at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

He is likely to replace KL Rahul in the side and would take back his No. 3 spot. Gill had a great series against England earlier this year and recently hit a century in Chennai against Bangladesh.

4. Virat Kohli

After missing the entire England series, Virat Kohli is gradually returning to good form in test cricket. After a couple of aggressive knocks in Kanpur against Bangladesh, Kohli scored 70 (102) in India’s second innings in Bengaluru and looked to take the bowlers on.

He received a peach from O’Rourke in the first innings, when he was dismissed for a duck. But the challenge in Pune will be tough for Kohli as a spin-friendly track is expected.

5. Rishabh Pant (wk)

Pant had an injury scare in Bengaluru when he was struck on his knee during New Zealand’s first innings. He didn’t keep wicket for the rest of the match, but batted without showing discomfort in India’s second innings and cracked 99 runs off 105 balls while regularly using his feet to skip down the pitch.

His successful test comeback, which included a century in Chennai, has been a huge positive for India, and they would want him to carry this form forward.

6. Sarfaraz Khan

Sarfaraz Khan was pushed to the No. 4 spot in Bengaluru and he didn’t curb his attacking instincts. While Devon Conway took a one-handed blinder to hand Sarfaraz a duck in the first innings, the youngster blasted 150 runs in the second innings to show his mettle as a test cricketer.

This knock came while India were under the pressure of a 356-run deficit. India should retain Sarfaraz in the line-up, with Rahul facing the axe.

7. Ravindra Jadeja

Apart from three wickets in the first innings, Ravindra Jadeja didn’t contribute much in the Bengaluru test. He scores five runs in two combined innings with the bat.

In Pune, he will have a big role to play as the pitch is expected to be spin-friendly. At the MCA stadium, in two tests, he’s taken nine wickets and has a best score of 91.

8. Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin had a forgettable game in Bengaluru. He picked up only one wicket while conceding 100 runs and scored only 15 runs overall.

India will want their champion off-spinner to help them level the series in Pune, where he has 13 wickets in two tests.

9. Axar Patel

Among the changes that are expected for the second IND vs NZ test in India’s line-up is the potential return of Axar Patel, replacing Kuldeep Yadav. While Kuldeep did pick three wickets in New Zealand’s first innings, he was carted around at 5.4 runs per over and then at 8.7 runs per over in the second innings.

Considering that Kuldeep doesn’t provide much with the bat and that India’s lower-order suffered collapses in both innings, the hosts could bring back Axar in the side, who averages 39 with the bat in Indian conditions.

10. Jasprit Bumrah

Ahead of the start of the IND vs NZ series, India may have thought of giving Jasprit Bumrah a rest in either one of the last two tests. However, with a loss in the first test, Bumrah, barring any injury, should be in the remaining two games, more so given how toothless the other bowlers looked at times in Bengaluru.

He picked up three wickets in the game and was the only Indian bowler who looked threatening at all times.

11. Akash Deep

Another big selection call that India might take for the second IND vs NZ test could be that Akash Deep replacing Mohammed Siraj.

Not just in Bengaluru, where he took two wickets for 100 runs, but Siraj has been disappointing throughout the year in home tests: in 14 innings at home this year, Siraj has taken 12 wickets at an average of 42.83.

On the other hand, Akash Deep has had a terrific start to his test career: eight wickets in five innings at 23.12. Moreover, he’s targetted the stumps and threatened the outside edges a lot more than Siraj has.

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