Rohit Sharma's Team India will look to bounce back in the crucial second Test against New Zealand which is slated to be played from October 24 at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. The Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, which has hosted only two Tests in its 12-year history, has seen contrasting results for India.
The most recent Test at this venue was a memorable one for India. In October 2019, they defeated South Africa by a resounding margin of an innings and 137 runs. Virat Kohli's unbeaten 254-run knock was the highlight of the match, earning him the Player of the Match award and securing an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
How did India perform when they last played a Test match in Pune?
India, batting first, declared their innings on a mammoth 601/5 on Day 2. After losing early wicket of Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal and Cheteshwar Pujara stabilized the innings with a 138-run partnership. Pujara departed for 58, but Agarwal continued to shine, forming another crucial partnership with Virat Kohli.
Mayank Agarwal, Virat Kohli's batting heroics for India
Agarwal, fresh from his match-winning 215 in the first Test, scored a brilliant century before being dismissed for 108. By the end of the first day, Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane had added 75 runs to the total, with Kohli remaining unbeaten on 68.
Kohli and Rahane continued their partnership, adding 178 runs to the total before Rahane was dismissed for 59. Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja then formed a formidable partnership, scoring 225 runs for the fifth wicket. Jadeja was unfortunately dismissed for 91, missing out on a century. India declared their innings with Kohli unbeaten on 254.
Ravindra Jadeja-R Ashwin's spin wizardry
South Africa, in their first innings, were led by Faf du Plessis (64) and Keshav Maharaj (72), but were eventually bowled out for 275. Ravichandran Ashwin claimed four wickets for India. India enforced the follow-on, and South Africa were quickly dismissed for 189, with Umesh Yadav and Jadeja picking up three wickets each.
It will be interesting to see whether Rohit Sharma's brigade can script a comeback and win the second Test to force a series decider at the iconic Wankhede stadium in Mumbai.
