How to watch India vs New Zealand – Second Test Match – Day 3
When: Thursday 24th October, 05:00 (UK time)
Where: Pune
How:
UK – TNT Sports 1
Australia – Fox Sports 1
New Zealand – Sky Sport 1
Preview & Prediction
Day 3
India, having prepared a pitch to suit their spinners, found that they couldn’t cope with New Zealand’s spinners with Mitchell Santer emulating Washington Sundar taking 7 for 53. India were bowled 156, giving New Zealand a lead of 103 which they built on scoring 198 for 5, the lead now 301. Any score over 300 to win in the fourth innings in India would prove difficult and expect New Zealand to add to that lead and go on to the be first away side to beat India in a Test series since 2012 when England won.
Day 2
Pretty even after day one – New Zealand won the toss and decided to bat, the sensible decision. The Black Caps are probably slightly under par with a score of 259 after Conway and Ravindra both made half-centuries. Washington Sundar returned his best ever figures of 7 for 59 with his off-breaks and all the wickets went to the spinners. Tim Southee got the first wicket for a seamer when he bowled Rohit Sharma for a duck. Jaiswal and Gill saw out the day very watchfully (15 runs off 8 overs). Could the New Zealand seamers repeat their feat in the first Test? Expect India to bat patiently and overall New Zealand’s score.
Day 1
India made all the mistakes in the 1st Test and paid the penalty. They won the toss and batted on a pitch that favoured seamers, unusual in India. They won’t make the same mistake again. India have lost the first Test in a few recent series, against England in 2021 and 2024 and against Australia in 2017. On all three occasions they’ve come back to win the series, though they were all four match series. This one against New Zealand is just three matches. Shubman Gill is back for India who have a choice to make. Do they drop Sarfaraz Khan, who made a century in the last Test on his return to the team or KL Rahul, the established middle-order batsman? A difficult decision for the home side. The other decision they have to make is whether they go for four spinners on a pitch that has been prepared to turn from day one. New Zealand won the first Test with the bowling of their seamers Matt Henry and Will O’Rourke and the batting of Rachin Ravindra. They too are likely to drop one of their seamers in favour of spinner, either Mitchell Santner or Ish Sodhi. I have no doubt that India will roar back, avenge the first Test defeat and set up the series decider at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
