India captain Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat first on his retirn to the team. The second Test between India and New Zealand has brought a string of changes to both the camps as India miss out on the services of Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja and Ishant Sharma who are all out with injuries. Kohli is back in the team as he takes the captaincy over from stand-in skipper Rahane. The 33-year-old's return to the team is a big boost for the hosts.
There was also big news for New Zealand, Kane Williamson is out for the visitors while Daryl Mitchell comes in the team. Tom Latham will take charge for the Kiwis in Williamson's absence. New Zealand pacers picked up 14 wickets in the first test at Kanpur, but opted to go with same combination. Mumbai born Ajaz Patel is also in the team.
Wriddhiman Saha is passed fit after injury scares in Kanpur as Srikar Bharat worked behind the stumps in both innings. Bharat will have to wait for his Test debut. Ishant's miss though has opened the gates for Mohammed Siraj, the 27-year-old was expected to be in the team as a third seamer in the overcast conditions of Mumbai. The Delhi-born player misses out with back injury.
Jayant Yadav has come in for Jadeja as he also got injured as Kohli said that he is unable to pick up the bat at coin toss. India continue with the same opening pair as the Kanpur Test. Last time, Jayant played at Wankhede stadium, he scored a hundred.
Team News
India - IN: Virat Kohli, Mohammed Siraj, Jayant Yadav; OUT: Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma
NZ - IN: Daryl Mitchell; OUT: Kane Williamson
India Playing XI: Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Shreyas Iyer, Wriddhiman Saha(wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj
New Zealand Playing XI: Tom Latham(c), Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Tom Blundell(w), Rachin Ravindra, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, William Somerville, Ajaz Patel
