Team India New Zealand will face New Zealand for the last time in the second and final Test starting on Friday, December 3 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The home team would be hoping to do better than the first Test in Kanpur, they were on the verge of victory but the game ended in a tie as India failed to take the last Kiwi wicket.
Some significant changes are expected in India’s playing XI for the Mumbai Test, as Team India’s bowling coach Paras Mhambrey has given an update on wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha’s neck injury and his inclusion ahead of the second Test. Saha not only batted with a stiff neck in the Kanpur Test but also scored a crucial half-century during India’s second innings in that match. The 37-year-old, however, could not take up his wicketkeeping duties in both the innings and substitute KS Bharat had to fill in for the veteran.
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Saha is yet to be ruled out of the second Test but his unavailability could give India a chance to make his debut. Speaking in a pre-match virtual media interaction on Wednesday, Mhambrey said, “We will take a call at the close of the game on his situation, with the physio in constant touch with head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Virat Kohli.” “Whatever he is doing, he raised his hand and gave it for the team,” said Mhambrey, praising his scintillating innings.
Saha’s neck injury could also solve the host selection conundrum, as they may choose India to open the innings with Shubman Gill, which means Mayank Agarwal will be ruled out. Additionally, the regular captain Virat Kohli Will return to lead the team against the Black Caps. With Kohli’s entry, the selectors are sure to leave out at least one player from Kanpur’s playing XI.
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Meanwhile, Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara’s places have come on the radar as the senior players performed poorly in both the innings of the first Test. However, Mhambrey was not overly concerned about the two’s form and believed they were just a “knock away” from getting their mojo back.
“I think both Rahane and Pujara have enough experience. He has played enough cricket and we as a team also know that he is an innings away from getting back in form.
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