India will be looking to wrap up their series in straight sets against New Zealand after a dominant display in the first Test that saw them take a massive win. Join The Roar for live scores of the first day’s play in the second Test from 2pm (AEST).
The first Test at Green Park in Kanpur saw India cruise to victory by 197 runs as they did everything right over the five days and reduced New Zealand to nothing.
After they posted 318 in their first innings on the back of a Murali Vijay knock of 65, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin took nine of the ten New Zealand wickets, reducing them to just 262 despite Kane Williamson making 75.
Batting last, a first innings lead was always going to be critical, and India proved that to be the case as they made the best of the pitch and ended up declaring their second innings on 5 for 377, setting New Zealand a huge 433 to win.
In reply, the Kiwis never came close with Ashwin taking six wickets and the Kiwis were skittled for 236, which would have been a lot worse had Luke Ronchi and Mitchell Santner not scored 80 and 71 respectively.
The second match has some high-profile injury worries coming in that could change the course of the match, and indeed momentum of the series.
For the hosts, Ashwin has a finger problem and could miss the match if he can’t prove his fitness. After taking ten wickets in the first match, that would be a massive out and a serious boost for the Kiwis.
India are also without Lokesh Rahul, with Gautum Gambhir included in the squad for the first time in two years, although he will fight for the other opening position with Shikhar Dhawan.
New Zealand could also be without Kane Williamson through illness. The first drop batsman and skipper has been one of the Kiwis’ best players over the last 24 months, and was solid in the first Test. If he can’t play, it’s hard to see where New Zealand’s runs come from.
Prediction
If Williamson is out, then the Kiwis are right out of it – even if he plays they are up against it, although if Ashwin doesn’t play it will throw the balance a little back towards them.
Still, at Kolkata and in form, India will find a way to win and more than likely will do so fairly comfortably, although the toss today will have a big influence on that, with the team batting first to get a large advantage moving onto Day 4 and 5 with another wicket that is expected to spin.
Be sure to join The Roar for live scores of Day 1 in the second Test between India and New Zealand from 2pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
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Anindya Dutta
Roar Guru
Actually the pitch bounce is not that consistent. There were a few staying low and a few with great bounce so not sure it will be so easy for the batsmen as we move along.
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
The absence of Williamson gives India the edge for even with the score now there is no one in the Kiwi batting line up that inspires any faith. The pitch is very good for batting but few in the NZ 11 have the technique/temperament to get a good score in tests. It would rely on Taylor getting his head on the game after his embarrassing run out in Kanpur or pressure falls on the talented youngsters like Latham/Santner to step up
Anindya Dutta
Roar Guru
It was the Black Caps day in the end. If Saha and Jadeja can play out the first few overs tomorrow a 300+ score is on the cards. And that looks like it would be a decent score on a typical Eden Gardens wicket that has bounce and is reasonably fast. Will help the spinners from Day 3 I am sure like a good sub continent wicket typically does. But Eden has never been a spinners paradise and Ganguly has made sure this isn't a dust bowl.