India vs NZ 2020: 2nd Test Players Overview and Predicted Playing 11

India vs NZ 2020: Team India look to avoid whitewash as we look at the players overview, and the predicted playing 11 for the second Test.

Update, Feb 28, 11 am: Ishant Sharma has suffered a right ankle injury, and is ruled out of the second Test. Umesh Yadav is likely to replace him in the playing 11. Hence, the article is modified accordingly. 

Match Details: 

Occasion	Second Test, India vs New Zealand 2020
Location	Christchurch
Date & Time	Saturday, 29th February, 2020, 4 am IST

Team India suffered a proper hammering in the first Test match. After their dream unbeaten run in the World Test Championship winning all their 7 matches, New Zealand rocked back India with a 10 wicket win.

While the bowlers did their job decently, it were the Indian batsmen, who let down the team in both the innings. Barring Mayank Agarwal, no other batsman managed a 50+ score. While few players did chip in few runs, India played poorly as a batting unit as a whole.

So, will Team India make any changes in the playing 11? What performance did the players give, and what to expect from them in the second Test match? Let’s find out in the players overview, and the predicted playing 11 for the second Test between India and New Zealand.

Predicted Playing 11- Team India

Openers:

Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal

Virat Kohli openly called Prithvi Shaw a fearless cricketer and a game changer. He thinks if Shaw has a clear frame of mind, it will be a different ball game all-together. This comes after Shaw’s poor returns in the first Test where he mounted just 30 runs. 

While Prithvi Shaw is currently under observation for having a swelling on his left foot, he is expected to be fit for the second Test match. If not, Shubman Gill is most-likely to take his place as an opener. 

Meanwhile, Mayank looked Team India’s best batsman in the first Test match. Not only did he see-off the initial new ball, he stitched good partnerships with the middle-order in both the innings. India would want him to play similar positive cricket in the second Test match. 

Middle-order:

Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (C), and Ajinkya Rahane

Known for his solid defence technique, Cheteshwar Pujara has had a woeful run in Tests in New Zealand so far. In the 6 innings he has played here, he could only manage 82 runs at an average of 13.7. India would be hoping for him to get back to form in the second Test leaving behind his lull of runs.

Virat Kohli has had a disastrous tour so far. Not just T20Is, Kohli failed in ODIs, and in the first Test too. But, given the champion player he is, and the kind of situation Team India are in, we can expect Kohli to score big in the second Test.

Ajinkya Rahane looked Team India’s second-best best batsman in the first Test. He played two patient knocks of 46 and 29, and gave India something to cheer about. India would be hoping for Rahane to continue his form in the second Test too. 

Lower-order and Wicket-keeper:

Hanuma Vihari and Rishabh Pant

Hanuman Vihari consumed a lot of balls in the second innings of the first Test, which gave India some hope to save the Test. However, he couldn’t score much as his consolidated score of the Test stands at just 22. It would be important for him to not let pressure creep in, in the second Test match. 

Selected ahead of India’s best wicket-keeper, Wriddhiman Saha, Rishabh Pant showed immense maturity in both the innings he played. Surprisingly, his wicket-keeping was good too. He would play a crucial role down the order again to stitch the lower-order properly in the second Test match. 

Bowlers:

Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, and Umesh Yadav. 

Virat Kohli selected Ravichandran Ashwin for the first Test match despite the fact that the New Zealand team had 8 right-handers in the squad. While there’s nothing wrong with R Ashiwn’s bowling, the fact that Jadeja would be more productive for this batting-order demands his selection. Add to it his current batting form in all forms of cricket. Mind you, Jadeja averages 60+ in Tests in 2019.

Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, Indian’s best pacers looked extremely woeful in the first Test. They lacked discipline, and bowled poor line and lengths. However, they should bounce back in the second Test given that Christchurch pitch would assist pacers the most. 

Meanwhile, in the form of a shocking news to the Indian fans, Ishant Sharma has been ruled out of the second Test. The speedster has pulled up an injury in his right ankle. Umesh Yadav seems the most-likely replacement. He would have huge shoes to fill as Ishant was India’s best pacer in the first Test. 

So, that completes the predicted playing 11 for Team India for the first Test between India and New Zealand. Here’s the consolidated line-up for both the teams. 

India vs NZ Second Test Predicted Playing 11 for Team India:

Prithvi Shaw, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah

New Zealand would be excited with the return of their key pacer, Neil Wagner. While Neil Wagner is certain to play, New Zealand would also want Kyle Jamieson, who was excellent in the first Test to retain his place. Hence, expect Ajaz Patel to warm the bench in the second Test. 

India vs NZ Second Test Predicted Playing 11 for New Zealand: 

Tom Blundell, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson (C), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling (WK), Colin de Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, and Neil Wagner.

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