The pitch in Pune is a black soil surface |Courtesy-BCCI
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- The Pune Test will be played on a black soil pitch
- India are 1-0 down in the series
- The third Test will take place in Mumbai
After defeat in the Bengaluru Test against New Zealand, the Indian cricket team are set to prepare pitchew with drastically different characteristics for the second and third Test scheduled to take place in Pune (October 24-28) and Mumbai (November 1-5) respectively with the Rohit Sharma-led team's place in the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) under serious doubt.
According to a report by Espncricnfo, the pitch at the Maharasthra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune will be a bald and slow turning surface The track will have a black soil as India aim to level the series after a eight-wicket defeat in the Bengaluru Test.
The same repor states that India's plan for the next two matches is to prepare turning tracks in order to ensure that the Indian spinner can dominate the New Zealand batting unit.
India's Desperate Fight To Stay In WTC Final Race
While India are still comfortable on top spot in the table, they have to play five Test matches in Australia and cannot afford any more dropped points at home. As things stand, India need to win atleast five Tests to be guranteed a place and not depend on other results. If India do not win both the remaining Tests against New Zealand, it will leave them with the impossible task of winning four Test matches away to Australia.
As far as the Bengaluru Test is concerned, India were left shellshocked by the conditions after the first day of play was washed out. Rohit Sharma's decision to bat first after winning the toss backfired on the second day as the hosts were bowled out for just 46 runs as the New Zealand pacers made optimal usage of the favourable conditions.
India's stunning record of winning 17 Test series in a row at home is also under threat with victories in both matches needed to continue the trend. India's loss in a home series came in 2012 against England.
This will be the third Test match at the MCA Stadium in Pune. India lost to Australia at the venue in 2017 on a rank turner before beating South Africa in 2019.
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