India v New Zealand | 2nd Test | Mumbai | 3-7 December | Pre-match Discussion

[mastimasti]

This is now a must win for India because anything else would be a shame at home, against a side very weak in Asian conditions. Shastri's "one of the greatest sides" will have failed against a kiwi side missing some key names.

First thing for me is back some of the big guns:

1. Rohit Sharma - has to come back in, we have an opening slot issue and he's better than Agarwal
2. Shubman Gill - very good young batsman and the future of our test batting, he stays.
3. Pujara - last chance saloon imo, he needs a good 6-8 months in test cricket or he should stop being an auto selection.
4. Kohli c - comes back in, easy.
5. Iyer
6. Pant wk - comes back because we lack genuine keeper bats in the domestic circuit.
7. Jadejad - great home track player.
8. Ashwin - best spinner we have had in years.
9. Siraj
10. Bumrah
11. Shami

The 3 pace bowlers NEED to be in the side and unless the track is going to turn at 90 degrees, two average left armers are pointless, so Jadeja stays for his batting, Axar stays on the bench.

This is a key match for us now! NZ must be beaten.

 

[Devadwal]

Lol indian team already announced so no chance for Rohit ,Pant Shami and Bumrah .only virat will play next game ,rest are same team.

 

[Kohli The King of Chase]

Gill
Iyer(they’ll make him open to keep Rahane)
Pujara
Kohli *
Rahane
Jadeja
Saha +
Ashwin
Axar
Yadav
Ishant

 

[Devadwal]

Gill
Iyer(they’ll make him open to keep Rahane)
Pujara
Kohli *
Rahane
Jadeja
Saha +
Ashwin
Axar
Yadav
Ishant

If they want to keep rahane than better open with Pujara rather then Iyer
Pujara
Gill
Rahane
Virat
Iyer
Jadeja
Saha
Ash
Azar
Yadav
Siraj

 

[mastimasti]

Lol indian team already announced so no chance for Rohit ,Pant Shami and Bumrah .only virat will play next game ,rest are same team.

I don't get to follow the news within seconds, so did not know. But it doesn't change the hypothetical. Sadly the BCCI thinks they can just get away with b teams. What was the thinking a few months ago...we're strong enough to field 3 different teams across formats? Nope!

 

[Ab Fan]

Aur Khelo 20-20 cricket tamasha lol...

No one is gonna come back.

Swety Aunty ko saare test matches v jitna hai..

Lekin saare ODIs and T20s v khelna hai..

10 test aur 15 ODI pehle khelte the ek saal me lekin ab uski jagah 12 test, 13 ODI and 20 T20 in a year khelna hai..bubble break nahi karna hai..lekin players ko rest v nahi dena hai..

Kyuki Swety Aunty ko test matches saare jitna hai..

 

[mastimasti]

Aur Khelo 20-20 cricket tamasha lol...

No one is gonna come back.

Swety Aunty ko saare test matches v jitna hai..

Lekin saare ODIs and T20s v khelna hai..

10 test aur 15 ODI pehle khelte the ek saal me lekin ab uski jagah 12 test, 13 ODI and 20 T20 in a year khelna hai..bubble break nahi karna hai..lekin players ko rest v nahi dena hai..

Kyuki Swety Aunty ko test matches saare jitna hai..

The rest issue is nonsensical tbh. A large chunk of cricketers in the world t20 from Aus/NZ/Eng were all in the IPL/in bubbles and all performed better than India.

Now, if the contracts were that Indian players in the world t20 would be able to rest during the test series, I can't blame them (like Englands ridiculous policy on the tour of Asia).

 

[Kohli The King of Chase]

I don't get to follow the news within seconds, so did not know. But it doesn't change the hypothetical. Sadly the BCCI thinks they can just get away with b teams. What was the thinking a few months ago...we're strong enough to field 3 different teams across formats? Nope!

It wasn’t announced seconds back. It was literally announced 2 weeks back smh

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Aur Khelo 20-20 cricket tamasha lol...

No one is gonna come back.

Swety Aunty ko saare test matches v jitna hai..

Lekin saare ODIs and T20s v khelna hai..

10 test aur 15 ODI pehle khelte the ek saal me lekin ab uski jagah 12 test, 13 ODI and 20 T20 in a year khelna hai..bubble break nahi karna hai..lekin players ko rest v nahi dena hai..

Kyuki Swety Aunty ko test matches saare jitna hai..

Who is Sweety aunty?

 

[Devadwal]

I was Surprised about kanpur pitch becouse I want a rank Turner for NZ as they always give us green top .

 

[Saurav]

Spotlight is on Rahane but Ishant needs to be shown the door too.

 

[Marathonrunner]

Mumbai pitch gives assistance to seamers . Would be interesting to see as to what the captain decides post winning. Overall would be great contest I feel . King is also back . Hope he scores a double ton.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Am sure a moon dust wicket is being made just like we saw during england series.

 

[Marathonrunner]

Dust bowl would be much needed to check NZ skills and if they can survive the same . Asian teams struggle in Nz on green tops so would be good to check NZ skills as well

 

[Justcrazy]

India will make a genuine turner in Mumbai , Ball will turn from first session maybe. Toss will be crucial. If Kiwis win the toss , they will be more comfortable.

 

[Cover Drive Six]

Gill
Iyer(they’ll make him open to keep Rahane)
Pujara
Kohli *
Rahane
Jadeja
Saha +
Ashwin
Axar
Yadav
Ishant

May be they will send Pujara as an opener

 

[sweep_shot]

India should win but you never know.

I think India should play a full-strength team.

 

[Marathonrunner]

Yes King is back with Bumrah . Rohit and pant are rested.

 

[Usergame]

I was Surprised about kanpur pitch becouse I want a rank Turner for NZ as they always give us green top .

This was far more of a rank Turner than any of the pitches last time in NZ being green tops. India always get favourable pitches in NZ - 2003 aside.

India, Pakistan and Australia have a really bad habit about always complaining about pitches like cry babies.

 

[Bahnz]

This is now a must win for India because anything else would be a shame at home, against a side very weak in Asian conditions. Shastri's "one of the greatest sides" will have failed against a kiwi side missing some key names.

First thing for me is back some of the big guns:

1. Rohit Sharma - has to come back in, we have an opening slot issue and he's better than Agarwal
2. Shubman Gill - very good young batsman and the future of our test batting, he stays.
3. Pujara - last chance saloon imo, he needs a good 6-8 months in test cricket or he should stop being an auto selection.
4. Kohli c - comes back in, easy.
5. Iyer
6. Pant wk - comes back because we lack genuine keeper bats in the domestic circuit.
7. Jadejad - great home track player.
8. Ashwin - best spinner we have had in years.
9. Siraj
10. Bumrah
11. Shami

The 3 pace bowlers NEED to be in the side and unless the track is going to turn at 90 degrees, two average left armers are pointless, so Jadeja stays for his batting, Axar stays on the bench.

This is a key match for us now! NZ must be beaten.

Are NZ very weak in Asian conditions? They won in the UAE and drew a 2-test series v SL 1-1 (with their victory in the 2nd test being by an innings - the only incidence of this by any team besides India in the past 20 years iirc). That was before their stocks were bolstered by Jamieson, Young and Conway (though the later is obviously absent for this series).

Southee has an outstanding bowling record in Asia, Jamieson showed in the first test that he can be effective, Latham is probably one of the best openers for sub-continental conditions in the world, and KW - while having generally underperformed in India - is still a class player. India should beat them, but I think the current NZ side represents a sterner challenge than England or Australia could probably muster. The only team that I think might have a better chance than them atm would be Pakistan.

Anyway, for the second test NZ will no doubt drop Sommerville (invaluable though his innings was, he's in the team for his bowling not his batting) and bring in Wagner. If I were a selector I'd consider dropping Taylor as well - he's always looked hopeless against left arm spin. But he will play of course - a bit like with Pujara, selectors are loathe to drop experienced players in the middle of a high pressure series regardless of how out of touch they look.

 

[Ab Fan]

The rest issue is nonsensical tbh. A large chunk of cricketers in the world t20 from Aus/NZ/Eng were all in the IPL/in bubbles and all performed better than India.

Now, if the contracts were that Indian players in the world t20 would be able to rest during the test series, I can't blame them (like Englands ridiculous policy on the tour of Asia).

A lot of players have taken rest across the world, Trent Boult is not playing this series

Ben Stokes hasn't played any game here, Jos Buttler was unavailable during the India series in India, Australian cricketers have barely played any test cricket before the World T20. Kane Williamson skipped the T20Is, he is playing the tests now but there is a clear difference in the schedules of NZ cricketers and Indian cricketers.

If you want to blame BCCI, yeah blame them for schedule but this is all part and parcel of the game. But it is a fact that you look at how many tests and T20s the likes of Rohit, Kohli, Pant and Bumrah have already played this year and compare it to how many other cricketers round the world have played and that will explain all the differences.

Also, remember, India did performed better than New Zealand in this test, were on verge of winning if not for bad lights and obviously New Zealand played well. So, I don't see anything to worry about or asking for all the rested players to make a comeback. We are doing fine and haven't dropped a home test yet. It is not necessary to win all tests, especially after performing well against England in England and Australia in Australia. We will need the seniors for overseas test. If anything, the first priority should be to drop Rahane and Pujara. Rest will get sorted by themselves.

 

[RamLakhan]

These guys are more interested about Indian debacles than Indian triumphs! They go missing when India won in Australia, England, etc, but they come furious during losses and things like when we didn't play the last test in England... They need a reason to blame and curse India...

 

[Thanos]

Looking at statements made by coach and all, I don't think they are dropping Rahane. Mayank will be scapegoat to make way for VK. All the young talent available and they keep these non performers. What a shame.

Pujara can open with Gill.
Good for Iyer that he performed extremely well and management can't drop him.

 

[boomboomcheema]

What kind of pitch do you expect Indian fans.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

It will be epic if NZ somehow manage a win in Mumbai but seems highly unlikely

 

[Pollack]

Please give us a rank turner. NZ welcomes us with green mambas but we provide them sporting pitch.

 

[James]

NZ fought tremendously hard for that draw in the 1st Test. I'd back them to win in Mumbai.

 

[Ab Fan]

It will be epic if NZ somehow manage a win in Mumbai but seems highly unlikely

Kane is due a big knock and overseas players generally do well in Mumbai. So, who knows he might just play the type of knock he played in UAE two years ago vs Pakistan and with some more contributions, they can win the game.

Our middle order of Kohli, Pujara and Rahane has been absymal for long time now and the openers who did well in England was Rohit and to an extent Rahul, who are not here.

So, we are mostly relying on the spin trio of Ashwin, Jadeja and Axar with bowl and also to provide contributions from bat.

 

[Justcrazy]

NZ need to play exceptional cricket to draw , but if they want to win , they need India to play poorly , otherwise Indians are superior in these conditions.

 

[PakLFC]

India should have won the 1st test. Pacers wicket then NZ have a chance otherwise it's India all the way.

 

[Bahnz]

NZ need to play exceptional cricket to draw , but if they want to win , they need India to play poorly , otherwise Indians are superior in these conditions.

They also NEED to win the toss. No one's won a test in India after losing the toss since 2012.

 

[street cricketer]

They also NEED to win the toss. No one's won a test in India after losing the toss since 2012.

I assume you're talking about just the tourists because I remember India losing quite a few tosses a few years ago and winning quite comfortably.

 

[Maliq_Mudasir]

I don't know what's happening with the Indian team right now. Sometimes they fail to pick 1st wicket and sometimes last wicket.

Anyway best of luck for the 2nd Test.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

I don't think NZ can surprise India for the 4th time in a row in this year. Expecting India to roll over NZ in the 2nd test.

 

[MenInG]

MUMBAI, Dec 1 (Reuters) - India will hope the return of regular captain Virat Kohli proves to be the difference for the hosts against New Zealand when the world's two top-ranked test sides clash in the second and final match at the Wankhede Stadium from Friday.

Debutant Rachin Ravindra and number 11 batter Ajaz Patel combined in a last-wicket stand for New Zealand during the last session in Kanpur to see out the final 52 balls to deny India victory and leave the two-match series evenly poised.

While Kohli's return after a rest will be a welcome boost for the second-ranked test side's batting, it will also leave them with a selection headache.

In Kohli's absence, Mumbai batter Shreyas Iyer made a dream test debut with a first-innings 105 followed by a crucial 65 in the second.

Calls have grown to drop either Ajinkya Rahane, who led India in Kanpur, or Cheteshwar Pujara - both of whom have been short of runs - to vacate a spot for Kohli and allow Iyer to retain his place.

"Both with Ajinkya and obviously Pujara, we know that there's lot of experience behind them," India's bowling coach Paras Mhambrey told reporters on Wednesday.

"We also know as a team that they're one inning away from coming into form. So as a team everyone is behind them, backing them. We know the value they bring to the team, the experience that they have will come good.

"So in that sense, we are really not having those discussions around them. They've played enough cricket to understand what's expected of them and what is required to get that going."

For India there are question marks on the availability of Wriddhiman Saha, who was unable to don his wicketkeeping gloves on the final day due to a stiff neck.

KS Bharat will make his India debut if Saha is unable to prove his fitness.

CHANCE TO SCRIPT HISTORY

Top-ranked New Zealand, who beat India in a June contest in Southampton to win the inaugural World Test Championship, will have a chance to script history if they manage to win in Mumbai.

The gritty Black Caps have never won a test series in India, let alone a test match since the 1988/89 tour.

Mumbai-born Patel said the current side are not bothered about history and they would go into the contest confident that they can beat India.

But he warned that the spinners need to do better with the ball than they did at Kanpur.

"As a spin bowling unit, we were somewhat guilty of possibly not keeping the stumps in play for long periods of time," said the 33-year-old, whose parents immigrated to New Zealand in 1996.

"We've just got to make sure that we're a lot tighter on our lines and our lengths.

"From a batting perspective, our batters did an outstanding job on that wicket against the calibre of spinners that they (India) have."

https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/s...r-combination-against-new-zealand-2021-12-01/

 

[Cover Drive Six]

Not expecting turning pitch.
Rains washed out yesterday's practice sessions.

Atm weather is damp and overcast conditions due to cyclone effect.
Good chance to nz win or draw a series.

 

[Junaids]

This is now a must win for India because anything else would be a shame at home, against a side very weak in Asian conditions.

This is a key match for us now! NZ must be beaten.

Are you joking?

New Zealand won their last away series v Pakistan and drew the one before that.

New Zealand drew their last away series v Sri Lanka.

New Zealand are the reigning World Test Champions.

 

[Junaids]

Are you joking?

New Zealand won their last away series v Pakistan and drew the one before that.

New Zealand drew their last away series v Sri Lanka.

New Zealand are the reigning World Test Champions.

New Zealand also won and drew their last two series in Bangladesh.

 

[James]

Atm weather is damp and overcast conditions due to cyclone effect.
Good chance to nz win or draw a series.

Yep, huge chance for them.

 

[James]

Ind vs NZ, 2nd Test weather report: Will unseasonal rains in Mumbai play spoilsport to deciding contest?

India vs New Zealand 2nd Test weather report: Unseasonal rainfall in Mumbai over the last couple of days has put the second Test between India and New Zealand under threat. The two teams have all to play for with the series level at 0-0.

The India-New Zealand Test series is set for a cracking ending at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium with the teams arriving for the game with the series level at 0-0. A draw in the first game of the series in Kanpur has made the second game a winner takes it all contest.

However, unseasonal rainfall in Mumbai has put a major cloud over the Test match. The two teams were forced to cancel their scheduled practice session at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday due to the unfriendly weather conditions which forced the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a yellow alert over the city.

The same can be expected on Thursday with the dark clouds unlikely to relent on the eve of the game. However, there is some good news for cricket fans as better weather is expected over the five days of the game.

On day 1 of the game, there might be mild disturbances to play with around 20% chances of rain expected on Friday. However, the weather is expected to be completely clear from Saturday with the sun likely to come out.

The conditions are also expected to get hotter as the match progresses. While on Thursday, the maximum temperature expected is 26 degrees celsius, it is set to rise to 29 degrees celsius on Friday and above the 30 degree celsius range from Saturday.

Hence, cricket fans can be confident that rain will not play a major part during the game, and apart from Day 1, the maximum number of overs should be played. However, a lot will depend on the drainage facility at the Wankhede Stadium as it remains to be seen how quickly the groundsmen can dry the outfield after the massive rainfall over the last couple of days.

Talking about the match, Indian skipper Virat Kohli is set to return and lead the team. Following Shreyas Iyer's impressive debut, who goes out from the playing XI is a million-dollar question with places of senior batsman Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara under the scanner. India's wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha is also doubtful for the 2nd Test after suffering a neck sprain in Kanpur.

Source: Times Now News

 

[sweep_shot]

0-0 is a good outcome for New Zealand considering they are playing in India (where they generally get whitewashed).

 

[James]

0-0 is a good outcome for New Zealand considering they are playing in India (where they generally get whitewashed).

Yes, but imagine 1-0