The second and final Test between India and New Zealand will be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai from December 2, 2021. The first Test in Green Park, Kanpur ended in an exciting draw after the visitors managed to hold onto till the end of day five with just one wicket in hand.
This Test match will see the return of Virat Kohli back into the Indian team whites after being rested for the first Test and the preceding T20I series.
This means one of the non-performers from the first Test match might have to make way for Kohli to come in. Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Ajinkya Rahane are in the firing line to be dropped to make space for the captain.
Shubman Gill will be opening the innings alongside either Mayank Agarwal or his replacement if he makes way for Kohli. Given the backing Rahane and Pujara received from coach Rahul Dravid and bowling coach Paras Mhambrey; it can be expected that both the Test vice-captain and senior batter will get one more chance to come well before the squad for South Africa series is announced.
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Shreyas Iyer, thanks to his stupendous Test debut in Kanpur, is expected to hold onto his place. Wriddhiman Saha didn’t keep much in the Kanpur Test due to a stiff neck, but it has been confirmed by captain Virat Kohli himself that he is fit to take up gloves in the Mumbai Test match.
R Ashwin, Akshar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja might be retained for the Mumbai Test match given their good performance in Kanpur, though the Indian team management might be enticed to bring in one more pacer as the Wankhede Stadium helps fast bowlers more in previous encounters.
Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma bowled well in Kanpur, though not as good as their New Zealand counterparts, and will be excited to bowl in Mumbai on a more helpful pitch.
COC Predicted Team India playing XI for the second Test in Mumbai:
Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (C), Shreyas Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha (WK), R Ashwin, Akshar Patel, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma
