IND v AUS 2nd Test Preview: India eye comeback on a slow turner in Bengaluru

Before the start of the 4 match series between India and Australia, most of the cricketing pundits and experts of the game predicted a 4-0 outcome in favour of the hosts but before the start of the 2nd Test at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Australia are 1-0 up in the series after inflicting a crushing defeat on India by a huge margin of 333 runs. Despite their defeat, India will be upbeat ahead of the 2nd Test and will like to think that the 1st Test defeat was more of an aberration.

Australia played an exceptional brand of cricket at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Ground in Pune with left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe bagging 12 wickets in the match. His spell was instrumental in restricting the hosts to below 110 in both their innings. After remaining unbeaten for 19 Tests, India got a reality check in Pune which won’t be too bad for the home team going into the 2nd Test as it was bound to happen some day or the other. Losing the first Test means that they still have enough chance to win the Test series.

Indian captain ViratKohli promised that the Pune debacle won’t be repeated in any of the remaining 3 Tests while his Aussie counterpart said that India will be under intense pressure going into the 2nd Test. Kohli dead batted Smith’s opinion and said that they are well aware of the fact that the Aussies are the masters at playing mind games before any match.

Team News

India

Team India skipper Virat Kohli has made clear indications that changes will be made for the 2nd Test after their dismal show in Pune. India hasn’t played the same playing XI in consecutive Tests ever since Virat Kohli took over the reign from Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Karun Nair who scored a magnificent triple century in his last Test was seen practicing in the nest for long hours which might be an indication that he might be included in the Playing XI for the 2nd Test. There is also a possibility that the team might opt to give chinaman Kuldeep Yadav a debut and bring him in as a surprise element.

They might also want to bring in Bhuvneshwar Kumar for Ishant Sharma who was little effective on the Pune wicket despite there being substantial reverse swing on offer. Kohli also announced that Hardik Pandya who was a part of the Test setup won’t be available for selection as he is suffering from a shoulder niggle. However, it won’t bother the team management much as Hardik is yet to make his Test debut for the national team.

Also read- 5 Boxes Team India needs to tick to win the Bengaluru Test

Australia

After a comprehensive victory in the 1st Test, Aussie captain Steve Smith made it pretty clear that they won’t make any changes in the playing XI apart from any injury issues. Smith who scored a magnificent century in the 2nd innings of the Pune Test will look to carry on his rich vein of form going into the 2nd Test. Mitchell Starc who started the Indian collapse in the previous Test will also look to come out all guns blazing and dismantle the Indian top order.

Steve O’Keefe who had an exceptional outing in Pune will look to carry on his good work going into the 2nd Test but it remains to be seen how the left-arm spinner responds if the pitch is not conducive for the spinners. He bowled very good lines in the opening test and his partnership with off break bowler Nathan Lyon will be crucial to Australia’s chances in the 2nd Test.

Expectations from the pitch

The grass has been trimmed off from the pitch two days prior to the match which makes the pitch look extremely dry. All-rounder Mitchell Marsh was also of the same opinion and termed it ‘very dry’. Aussie captain Steve Smith believes that toss might play a big role in the outcome of the match. On the other hand, rain could play spoilsport as showers are expected on the 2nd day of the match. Despite the pitch being dry it is expected to assist the spinners.

Predicted XI

India: 

KL Rahul, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav/Jayant Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma/Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Australia:

David Warner, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith (C), Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Wade (wk), Mitchell Starc, Steve O’Keefe, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

StatAttack

1. He will be the first chinaman to represent India in International.

2. Ashwin needs 11 wickets to break Steyn’s record of most Test wickets in a season.