India vs New Zealand: MCA secretary says Maharashtra government's protocols will be followed during Mumbai Test

Stakes will be incredibly high when India and New Zealand will lock horns in the second and final Test of the series at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. With the opening Test in Kanpur resulting in a draw, the second game will decide the fate of the series. The action will get underway on December 3 and both sides would be raring to make a mark.

Meanwhile, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), the hosts of the second game, on Monday (November 29) said the officials would ensure strict implementation of COVID-19 protocols of the Maharashtra government during the course of the encounter. Notably, the iconic stadium is set to host its first international match after the COVID-19 virus came into the picture. Hence, MCA would want the game to be conducted smoothly.

The Association will make sure that all government protocols: MCA secretary Sanjay Naik

“The Association will make sure that all the protocols of the State government are strictly adhered to. As per the directives of the state government, we would be limiting the entry of spectators to a maximum of 25% of stadium capacity,” MCA secretary Sanjay Naik said in a media release.

Notably, the last Test at the Wankhede Stadium was played in 2016 between India and England. Hence, the longest format of the game returns to the venue after a gap of five years. “The Association will be hosting a test match after a gap of 5 years. We hope to give the fans of test cricket an opportunity to enjoy cricket at its best during these times of pandemic,” the MCA said.

Meanwhile, Team India will have some brainstorming to do ahead of the second game. As regular skipper Virat Kohli, who gave the Kanpur Test a miss, would return for this fixture. Hence, someone from the batting line-up has to make way for him.

With Shreyas Iyer scoring a century and a fifty on Test debut, axing him would be a tough call. Hence, fans might see either Ajinkya Rahane or Cheteshwar Pujara warming the benches. On the other hand, New Zealand would like to put up an even more substantial effort to win the Mumbai Test.