New Zealand was able to fight back and earn a draw against India in the first test. The game which got drawn after 5 days, saw New Zealand respond to India and make the most of all that was provided. While the Indian batting lineup did have enough firepower to put scores on the board, New Zealand was quick to respond in the beginning and then took their time in getting established with the pitch. 

With the second test set to kick start from the 3rd, all eyes will be on India to see if they could seal a victory at home against one of their fiercest rivals.

Test 2 of 2

With the 2nd test providing a lot of points to delve on, team India could very well bring in a few changes to the squad. While they did hold their nerve against New Zealand, there were moments that should have sealed the deal rather than leading things to a draw. Regardless, a mix to the starting Ⅺ seems like an absolute possibility and Virat Kohli might be one of the biggest additions to the squad. 

The captain, who was rested for a brief period, will be eyeing to come back and do all that he can to seal the win for India. So let’s look into a detailed mode of analysis and understand how team India could shape up. 

Date and Venue

The 2nd test in the New Zealand tour of India series will take place between the 3rd and 7th of December at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. 

India Vs New Zealand: Team Analysis

• The opening partnership

From the 1st test, it was clear that New Zealand had the better opening pair in Tom Latham and Will Young. Both the batsmen got off to a sensational start by leading scores on the board with Latham’s 95 and Young’s 89. While India eventually got off to a good start, it was missing in the first half as Mayank Agarwal failed to follow Shubman Gill in forming a good partnership.

While test games don’t require a firing start, they do need a clinical start that sets the tone for the rest of the game. So the team that sets off to follow a good lead and carry forward the momentum throughout the innings could see themselves close to victory. 

• Axar Patel and Tim Southee

Both Axar Patel and Tim Southee were in good form as they ended up taking wickets at crucial moments. Due to that, they are bound to retain their spot and probably continue the momentum that set them off. While the slow left-arm bowling from Axar was critical for the team in taking wickets, Southee ended up being more crucial as his run of wickets continued throughout the second innings as well.

So both these bowlers need to be on their A-game again as teams usually look to seal the deal on the final test. Based on the attacking pair that either team sends, the opponent will have to keep the right bowlers in the frame and look towards capitalizing on everything. 

• Shreyas Iyer and Tom Latham

Just like Axar Patel and Tim Southee, Shreyas Iyer and Tom Latham seem to be in the best of form as they continue to take their team forward. While India did see several contributions from its batsmen in the first innings, it was Iyer’s 105 that took things off. On the other hand, Tom Latham, who came in as part of the opening partnership with Will Young, was another standout performer for the Kiwis.

Scoring 95 in the first innings and 52 for the second innings, Latham kept the score sheet moving as he knew what exactly to do. Wading off the pressure and focusing on staying on the pitch were some of the major highlights and similarities that one could see between Iyer and Latham.

India Vs New Zealand: Head-to-Head in Test Series

India and New Zealand have witnessed some classic test games together as both teams have shared the stage for years. While New Zealand has the better record against India for international events, India leads the way in tests. 

Out of the 24 series that both these teams have played together, India stands on top with 13 wins, while only 3 have ended as draws. With 8 wins, New Zealand is not far behind and could very well seal the deal with a series victory. So the second test between these giants is going to be a crucial one and if you have been considering cricket betting for the same, you require the services of BritainBet.