IND vs NZ 2nd Test: How the Surface at Pune’s MCA Stadium is Expected to Play Out
India and New Zealand are set for a decisive clash in the second Test of their three-match series on Thursday at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium here. Being on the back foot with the series after a surprising start to the series, Team India, under captain Rohit Sharma, is under severe pressure to turn things around on home soil after a first encounter defeat by an underwhelming margin of eight wickets.
Bengaluru: It was a thumping experience for the Indian side in the opening match, as they could barely survive with the bat, getting bowled out for an abysmal score of 46 in their first innings. Just like the first innings, the Indian lineup folded up in the second innings, thus handing New Zealand a comprehensive win. Kiwis, with the unavailable Kane Williamson and Tom Latham at the helm with him, were good all-around. With Ravindra bating for New Zealand, it was outstanding while Devon Conway, William O’Rourke, and Matt Henry contributing for New Zealand at the important junctures.
All eyes are set on the pitch at Pune’s MCA Stadium as India gears up for this critical Test. Here is a detailed analysis of what to expect from the surface and just how it may change the game.
MCA Stadium Pune Ground Stats: A Breakdown of Batting vs. Bowling Success
The MCA Stadium in Pune is regarded as a testing track, particularly in Tests, where the pitch had, generally, been on the drier side. This time, it should turn out to be a black-soil pitch, which would be quite different from the Bengaluru track where India were found wanting against New Zealand’s pace attack. The Pune track is supposed to have less bounce than the Bengaluru one, and this may ensure spinners hold an edge over the fast bowlers.
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For India, given the problems New Zealand’s pace attack created in the previous game, the groundsboys will make sure they prepare a pitch more conducive to spin bowling. These conditions, then, are perfect for spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, a proven performer on such surfaces, and his partner Ravindra Jadeja, who has also starred in exactly this kind of scenario. Ashwin and Jadeja, who have a knack for troubling the touring batsmen, will be given ample opportunity to once again flip the game in India’s favor, if the conditions do suit spin.
How the Pitch May Behave Over the Course of the Game
The pitch at MCA Stadium is likely to yield enough turn from the very beginning, which should keep the spinners involved in the Test match. However, it is to be seen just how much deterioration is in store for it in the days immediately leading up to the Test, depending on the amount of moisture retained or lost due to watering.
The sun is going to beat down through most of the game, and so the pitch is likely to get drier as the game unfolds, increasing the difficulties for the batters. And what with the spinning threat, abrasive conditions are likely to bring back reverse swing opportunities for the pacers as the ball begins to get older, and add more complexity for batsmen on both sides.
Under these circumstances, the team that wins the toss will likely want to bat first. This way, they would be able to play as much as is possible on a relatively fresh pitch before it will start deteriorating considerably more than it does on the first and the second days. It might be relatively easier to make runs on the first and the second day, but by the third day, spinners are expected to dominate, and hence it will become more difficult to bat.
Key Players to Watch at the MCA Stadium in Pune
The match on a look at can prove to be series decider, depending on the performance of these key players. Here are few of them:
Ravichandran Ashwin
A relatively subdued venture at Bengaluru for Ashwin, as he could pick just one wicket in a couple of innings. That said, the off-spinner has an impressive record here lately. In his last two Test matches here, Ashwin has returned with 13 wickets, which goes to show the class he has displayed in conditions that come under the second category for spinning. Considering the class he has displayed lately in these conditions, Ashwin will be one of India’s prime plays in this Test as well.
Ravindra Jadeja
An all-rounder of some experience in Pune and with a certain track record, Ravindra Jadeja can only prove vital for India’s success. Jadeja has nine wickets in his last two Test matches at Pune, and his left-arm spin has been wreaking havoc in conditions where the ball tends to turn. Maintaining a tight line and taking wickets consistently will form crucial tasks for India in this do-or-die game.
Rachin Ravindra
New Zealand has young Rachin Ravindra to look forward to. The impressive century in the Bengaluru Test played by him has showed how composed and skilled he can be against the spin balls. Ravindra, with the form that he is currently in, looks like a bright ticket to bat for New Zealand on the demanding surface of Pune. If he withstands the pressure from the Indian spinners and continues his good form, he’s likely to be the match-winner for New Zealand.
Expected Strategies and Match Tactics
Considering that both teams are aware of the type of pitch which is going to have a larger say in this match, it would be critical for them to opt for the appropriate strategies. Here’s what one might expect in terms of tactical elements that shall characterise the match:
India’s Spin Advantage
The primary ploy of India will be to extract the maximum from their spinners. Ashwin and Jadeja are more than capable of exerting pressure and picking wickets at reasonable intervals, and therefore play a most critical role in India’s bowling plan. They may complement this further by employing variations of pace and line to really put the Kiwi batsmen on the back foot against a surface expected to yield to turn.
New Zealand’s Batting Line-Up to be Tested by India’s Spinners
New Zealand’s batsmen, particularly the likes of Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway, will have a tricky time while facing the Indian most potent arsenal-their spinners. To defend the ground from Ashwin and Jadeja’s onslaught, the visitors need to use the sweep shot perfectly while maintaining equilibrium while standing at the crease. It will probably be back-to-back aggression from New Zealand’s batsmen in the early overs to get as much juice out of a ball as possible when it is new and conditions are still quite good.
Reverse Swing for Pacers
Where reverse swing can be the deciding factor, abrasive pitches will also bail out fast bowlers later in the match as conditions might favor reverse swing. For teams comprising specific bowling ingredients like Mohammed Shami and Matt Henry, who have a tendency to play with the ball, reversing later can be considered a boon.
The Toss will be important as it will decide who gets to use this pitch first.
This is a match that the side that wins the toss would look to win, because they will get a chance to bat first on a fresher surface before the surface gets soggy and starts breaking down. Chasing will be tough, especially when they have to face batting in the fourth innings on a pitch that has gone to pieces. Spin and variable bounce will now come into play.
Prediction: A Spin-Dominated Affair
Given the conditions of the pitch and the shape the respective teams have come into the contest, it is apt to consider that the much-awaited second Test in Pune at the MCA Stadium is going to be a low-scoring, spin-based one. India would like to square up this series and would expect more from its spinners to put pressure on New Zealand’s batting lineup. New Zealand, however, is likely to carry forward the success they garnered from the first Test and prove that their upset victory in Bengaluru was not a sheer coincidence.
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With the series hanging in the balance, it could turn out to be a challenging contest of bat against ball in which each session can change the momentum. It will ultimately be the team that adapts the best to the spinning surface that proves to be the winner, and so a thrilling test at Pune’s MCA Stadium is a pretty good guarantee.
