Rohit Sharma dropped KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, and Kuldeep Yadav for the second Test against New Zealand in Pune.
India’s Rohit Sharma and Kuldeep Yadav
In a bold move, Rohit Sharma has dropped KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, and Kuldeep Yadav ahead of India’s second Test against New Zealand in Pune. After a shocking eight-wicket defeat in the first Test, India made three significant changes in an effort to level the series.
Shubman Gill Returns, Rahul Sidelined KL Rahul was replaced by Shubman Gill, who has fully recovered from a neck issue that kept him out of the first Test in Bengaluru. Despite Rahul’s solid track record, India’s decision to go with Gill was expected, as the young opener brings fresh energy to the top order. Sarfaraz Khan, who smashed 150 runs in the first match, retains his place in the XI.
Changes in the Bowling Line-up India’s bowling attack also saw a revamp. Mohammed Siraj, who struggled to take wickets in recent matches despite bowling well, was replaced by Akash Deep. The inclusion of Akash adds a new dynamic to the pace attack as India looks for a breakthrough in the series.
The biggest surprise, however, was the selection of Washington Sundar over Kuldeep Yadav. With multiple left-handers in New Zealand’s batting line-up, Sundar’s off-spin was favored, offering both wicket-taking ability and depth in India’s lower order. His inclusion means India now bats as deep as No.9 with all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Sundar bolstering the middle and lower order.
Rohit Sharma’s Take on the Changes Although Rohit Sharma did not delve into the specific reasons for each change, he emphasized the importance of seizing control early in the match. “The first session didn’t go our way in the last game, but we batted well in the second innings. We’re focusing on taking the positives and seeing how we can turn things around here. The pitch is drier, and the first 10-15 overs will be crucial,” Rohit stated before the match.
India’s lineup now includes Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (w), Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Akash Deep, and Jasprit Bumrah.
New Zealand’s Response New Zealand made one change, bringing in left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner to replace the injured Matt Henry. New Zealand captain Tom Latham, who won the toss and opted to bat first, said the team’s focus is on adapting to Pune’s conditions. “The pitch looks slightly different from last week, with less grass, so we expect some spin from ball one,” Latham noted.
New Zealand’s playing XI includes Tom Latham (c), Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (w), Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel, and William O’Rourke.
Pitch Report Experts Simon Doull and Dinesh Karthik pointed out that the Pune surface, made of black soil similar to Bangalore’s, is dry and devoid of grass, favoring spinners from the outset. Winning the toss and batting first is expected to be a key advantage.
As India looks to make a comeback, the stage is set for an exciting second Test with plenty of intrigue around the new inclusions.
