The second Test match of the series between India and New Zealand will be played at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on October 24 2024 at 9:30 AM IST. New Zealand is currently leading the series 1-0. This puts India in the position of having to win to level the series up. Fans of cricket and betting sites like Winbuzz should expect a very competitive match between the two teams.
New Zealand’s Dominance in the First Test
New Zealand were confident going into the series and their first test was a testament to that. After New Zealand chose to field first, the Indian team managed to post just 46 runs. New Zealand’s Matt Henry shredded the Indian batting order by taking five wickets. Rishabh Pant was the highest scorer with 20 runs for the team. The batting order for Indian batsmen had a tough time dealing with the New Zealand Pace attack led by Matt Henry.
In reply, New Zealand posted 402 runs on the scoreboard. The great success for the Kiwis was scored by Rachin Ravindra, who made 134 runs. Devon Conwy also aided the cause by contributing 91 runs. India’s spinners, Ravindra Jadeja as well as Kuldeep Yadav, were able to claim three wickets apiece but because of New Zealand batting well throughout the match, India had a huge task ahead of them.
In their response, India made a better of 463 runs in their second innings. Sarfaraz Khan played exceptionally well, scoring the highest of 150 runs while Rishabh Pant left the field seconds short of a hundred, scoring 99 runs. However, Wang Chung and Matt Henry managed to take away crucial wickets for New Zealand and both bowled well taking three wickets each. India’s efforts set up a target of 107 runs for New Zealand to chase.
New Zealand was able to easily do this, losing just 2 wickets. Will Young also added 48 runs to the team. Jasprit Bumrah from India, however, took two wickets. New Zealand rounded up this win comfortably. The 8-wicket victory was a hard-earned one that gave them the lead in the series.
India is determined to level up as they played poorly in the first match. Stagnating the series from turning into a loss at home is important considering the amount of effort put in by the team so far. Most of the batsmen in the Indian setup up like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul have to take the lead in the second test.
This Indian side led by Jasprit Bumrah in bowling will have to find ways to get through the New Zealand batting. The spin department consisting of Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja performed well in the first test. However, early breakthroughs from the pace attack have to be improved tuning into the second test.
With the series now 1-0 posted New Zealand’s direction, many might consider these betting patterns to not be favorable. However, this should not erase the importance of how strong India is at home.
For the punters of Winbuzz, this is what to consider:
- Form of Key Players: Players like Rachin Ravindra and Sarfaraz Khan are in great form and for sure they would be game changers.
- Pitch Conditions: The Pune pitch is likely to be neutral, providing equal opportunities for both the batsmen and the bowlers. Though spinners may be key as the match heads to the latter stages. Ravindra Jadeja and Rachin Ravindra could be players to watch.
- Weather Conditions: The weather is partly cloudy which could help the fast bowlers, more so in the early stages. Punters must follow the weather for updates to determine the most favorable payout.
Punters can look forward to betting markets of Top Batsman and Top Bowlers as these will be highly contested. Wagers on players like Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, Rachin Ravindra, and Matt Henry are expected to be reasonable for these markets.
Head-to-Head Record
India and New Zealand have had fierce rivalries over the years. In Test matches, India leads though not significantly with approximately 22 matches won and New Zealand with 14 to their name.
Nonetheless, New Zealand’s recent performance, especially with their aggression in winning the first Test. New Zealand should boost their motivation entering the second match. To prevent New Zealand from racing away with the series Lucas and the boys will have to be at their very best.
IND vs NZ 2nd Test Match Schedule
Match Date: October 24, 2024
Venue: Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune
Start Time: 09:30 IST
Predicted Playing XI for India
Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (C) (Wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah
Mohammed Siraj, Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, K L Rahul
Predicted Playing XI for New Zealand
Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (C) (Wk), Glenn Phillips, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel, William O’Rourke, Tom Latham (C), Devon Conway, Will Young
Key Players to Watch
India:
- Sarfaraz Khan – he scored an impressive 150 in the first test and should be important in the Indian batting lineup during the second test.
- Jasprit Bumrah – will carry the burden of leading India’s pack and should get important wickets in the initial overs.
- Ravindra Jadeja – With spinner friendly conditions in Pune Jadeja should give a good account of himself with bat and ball.
New Zealand:
- Rachin Ravindra: After scoring a century in the first Test, Ravindra is in top form and will be a crucial player for the Kiwis.
- Matt Henry: His five wickets in the first Test spell danger for the batsmen in the upcoming match. Will Young: His role at the top of the order has been important for New Zealand with many due chances and now he will seek to get back into some sort of form.
The second test between India and New Zealand would be interesting to watch. With India looking to level the series and New Zealand looking to clinch the series. Punters on Winbuzz can relive as two of the top Test nations in the world face off in Pune. Will the third test be a saviour for India or will it be business as usual for New Zealand? Either way, this time a mood for the second Test should be avoided!
