Decisive Test for New Zealand and India in Pune

Conditions for the first Test of the series in Bengaluru were heavily discussed, especially following Rohit Sharma's misreading of the pitch that benefited New Zealand. The teams now head to Pune, where drier conditions could present New Zealand, pursuing a historic victory, an opportunity to devise different strategies to overcome India. The question remains if they can succeed without much support for the pacers, and whether their spinners can improve after their dull performance in Bengaluru.

The first Test had some hiccups for the senior batters of New Zealand like Tom Latham and Daryl Mitchell. However, they're hoping for a significant contribution from the duo in the upcoming match. India, too had their share of concerns until Rohit and Virat Kohli fetched fifties to calm their nerves. India's aggressive batting strategy was partly responsible for their 46 all out score. Even though they intend to follow the same plan, they also aim to execute it at strategic moments.

Ryan ten Doeschate, the assistant coach, emphasized the need for a balance in the team's strategy. He stated that the teams worldwide, including India, are influenced by the scoring system of the World Test Championship. If India suffers a loss in the Pune Test, they'll need to win four out of their six remaining Tests to qualify for the WTC finals without having to depend on other outcomes.

The Pune Test is scheduled for Thursday, October 24 at 09:30 AM IST at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium with intermittent rain and hot afternoons in the forecast. The pitch, which seemed quite dry with grass removal efforts underway, could play more in favour of the spinners than the first game. Sarfaraz Khan's 150 in the first Test could give India some selection dilemmas.