India vs New Zealand 2024 2nd Test Match: Playing XI prediction, head-to-head stats, pitch report and weather update

India vs New Zealand, 2nd Test: Here's a look at the Playing XI predictions, head-to-head stats, venue records, pitch, and weather updates ahead of the IND vs NZ 2nd Test.

India's Ravindra Jadeja, left, share a light moment with India's head coach Gautam Gambhir, centre, and India's Virat Kohli during a training session ahead of their second test cricket match against New Zealand at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, in Pune, India, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

IND vs NZ 2nd Test Weather: After shocking India in the 1st Test at Bengaluru, the Kiwis will step into onto Pune’s Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium as the low key favourites. The visitors who are missing some of their key players for the series kept the explosive India batting line up on a lease, even skittling them out for 46 run in the 1st innings of the 1st Test, which played a huge part in the hosts losing the plot in Bengaluru.

Even though India fought back in the second innings with Rohit Sharma (52), Virat Kohli (70), Sarfaraz Khan (150) and Rishabh Pant (99), they could only muster a lead of just 107 runs which the BlackCaps chased down easily. Can India take back the initiative in Pune? Let’s find out what the conditions say.

Predicted XI:

India XI: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Washington Sundar/Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj/Akash Deep

Player to watch out for: After scoring an outstanding 150 runs in the first Test against New Zealand, all eyes will be on Sarfaraz Khan again to deliver with the bat for a shaky India middle order.

New Zealand XI: Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips, Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel

Player to watch out for: The drier conditions in Pune will suit the Kiwis; premium spinner Ajaz Patel just fine and he’ll be keen to burst out onto the forefront after the first Test was dominated by the pacers. Also, this is the same opposition against whom he took 10 wickets back in 2021 in Wankhede.

Squads:

India Squad: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma(c), Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant(w), KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Akash Deep, Dhruv Jurel

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New Zealand Squad: Tom Latham(c), Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell(w), Glenn Phillips, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel, William ORourke, Kane Williamson, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy

Pitch report: If there’s no rain, the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium will be more on the drier side and will favour spinners more than the express pacers. Expect the tweakers of both sides to have a say in this match.

Weather report: According to AccuWeather, the conditions in Pune will be partially cloudy and partly sunny but there is next to no chance of rain during the match.

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