India Playing XI 2nd Test – IND vs NZ LIVE: Virat Kohli’s return to the Test team has created a selection dilemma. Who will make way for Virat Kohli in Mumbai Test? But the skipper refused to reveal who will have to go out and left the decision for matchday. he said that the overcast and overnight rain will be taken into consideration before taking a call on the Playing XI on Friday. Follow India vs New Zealand LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
The good news coming from Mumbai is that Wriddhiman Saha has recovered from a neck spasm and is available for selection.
“Wriddhi is fit to play. He has recovered from the neck spasm. As for the combination, we have to discuss the conditions and take a call accordingly. We have to pick bowlers who can adapt to all situations as the weather may change in the next five days,” Virat Kohli said at the pre-match press conference.
- The buzz is Cheteshwar Pujara or Ajinkya Rahane is likely to be left out.
- Mayank Agarwal & Shubman Gill will continue at the top.
- Shreyas Iyer will keep his place in the middle order.
- Ishant Sharma could make away for Mohammed Siraj.
- Probable XI: Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane/Cheteshwar Pujara, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Siraj and Umesh Yadav
India Playing XI vs NZ: Wriddhiman fit, Kohli’s return creates selection headache, captain says call on Playing XI on matchday
#TeamIndia Captain @imVkohli talks about playing at the Wankhede and the happy memories that are associated with it.#INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/KmnUwnXRgB
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 2, 2021
The Wankhede pitch will also dictate who will go out. As it has been raining in Mumbai for the last three days, neither of the teams has been able to practice at the venue. As for the pitch, it has been under wraps in those days, indicating that there will be moisture for seamers to take advantage of.
Kohli said a decision on Playing XI will be taken on matchday after assessing the conditions which he expects to get better over the next five days.
“It looks like a typical Wankhede pitch. All sorts of bowlers will have something to offer on the pitch. You will go into that match knowing all types of bowlers will have big roles to play. I think this is a pitch that demands a lot of discipline. At the Wankhede, it will not be a rank-turner and not a seam-friendly wicket. But everyone will have something to offer,” Virat Kohli said.
India Playing XI vs NZ: Virat Kohli’s return creates selection headache, captain says call on Playing XI on matchday
Who Goes out from Indian XI as Kohli comes back? Ajinkya Rahana and Cheteshwar Pujara are on top of the list along with Mayank Agarwal. Shreyas Iyer, who grabbed the opportunity on Test debut, is the favourite to stay in the playing XI but Ishant Sharma’s place is also under scrutiny.
That Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara have had an abysmal last 12 months, the two places are under the scanner. But Rahane is the vice-captain of the Test team while Rahul Dravid has immense trust in Cheteshwar Pujara’s ability.
India Playing XI vs NZ: Virat Kohli’s return creates selection headache, captain says call on Playing XI on matchday
Virat Kohli press conference excerpts:
Refreshed after a break
It’s very important when you are constantly in bubbles. The intensity goes down. We have talked a lot about giving the players mental space and managing their workload.
Wriddhiman Saha/ bowling combination
Saha is fit to play. He has recovered from the neck spasm. As for the combination, we have to discuss the conditions and take a call accordingly. We have to pick bowlers who can adapt to all situations as the weather may change in the next five days.
Wankhede pitch
It looks like a typical Wankhede pitch. All sorts of bowlers will have something to offer on the pitch. You will go into that match knowing all types of bowlers will have big roles to play. I think this is a pitch that demands a lot of discipline. At the Wankhede, it will not be a rank-turner and not a seam-friendly wicket. But everyone will have something.
India Playing XI vs NZ: Virat Kohli’s return creates selection headache, call on Playing XI on matchday- Follow LIVE Updates
South Africa series
It’s pretty natural. We are not playing at a normal time. There have been a lot of conversations. We have talked to all senior players and Rahul bhai has kept us in loop. We have been talking to us. We should know in a day or two about the tour. We are all working hard towards a common goal.
Not winning the first Test
The team did their best to win the match but they couldn’t. Ajinkya has always come up with great ideas. You have to always give credit to the opponents the way they batted in the last 10 overs or so. Collectively, we have to find opportunities.
India Playing XI vs NZ: Virat Kohli’s return creates selection headache, call on Playing XI on matchday- Follow LIVE Updates
Double century at Wankhede
I have happy memories at Wankhede. My aim is to play as the team wants. If I have to play long innings as the team needs, I will do that.
Dropping A player from Playing XI:
Communication is important so it’s better to communicate to the individuals directly. It is always based on the combinations at a certain match. We understand there will always be ups and downs. A decision is taken after a collective set of ideas.
Practice at CCI:
I needed to get the feel of red ball cricket and get into the rhythm. That was the reason.
Another big question for the team would be the fitness of wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha.
@12PM: Wankhede pitch still under covers.
@11:15 AM: Update from Mumbai. New Zealand have cancelled their practice due to wet ground. India, however, are training indoor at the BKC complex.
Yesterday’s rain and more overnight showers have left the Wankhede Stadium too wet for training today. The team will go to the ground this afternoon for a look around and to set up. #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/gW1Lfjbrja
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) December 2, 2021
India Playing XI MumbaI Test – IND vs NZ LIVE Virat Kohli is back, who goes out? Indian captain’s press con LIVE at 1: Follow LIVE Updates
If both Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara are to stay, Rahul Dravid and Virat Kohli will have to make a tough choice in terms of opening. Mayank Agarwal after 13 and 17 in two innings in the first match, is all set to go out to make way for Virat Kohli.
- Virat Kohli coming in will mean dropping one player and Mayank Agarwal looks all set to go out.
- Shreyas Iyer after a historic debut will be retained in Playing XI and will bat at No 4.
- But Mayank going out creates a problem — who will open?
- Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha are two openers in the squad while Cheteshwar Pujara had also opened in 6 innings with an excellent average of 116.00. Saha has never opened for India but has played in the position for Bengal and in IPL.
- Pujara last opened the innings back in 2015 against Australia and scored a century.
- If India are to retain both Pujara and Rahane, the former will have to open with Gill while Virat Kohli will have to promote himself to No 3.
India Playing XI vs NZ 2nd Test: Selection headache for Rahul Dravid – who will make way for Virat Kohli in playing XI?
Cheteshwar Pujara’s record:
| Date | Versus | Ground | Inns | How Dismissed | Runs | Aggr | Avg |
| 15-11-2012 | England | Narendra Modi Stadium | 2nd | not out | 41* | 41 | |
| 14-03-2013 | Australia | Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium | 2nd | lbw b N M Lyon | 28 | 69 | 69 |
| 22-03-2013 | Australia | Arun Jaitley Stadium | 1st | b N M Lyon | 52 | 121 | 60.5 |
| 2nd | not out | 82* | 203 | 101.5 | |||
| 28-08-2015 | Sri Lanka | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground | 1st | not out | 145* | 348 | 174 |
| 2nd | b K T G D Prasad | 0 | 348 | 116 |
India Playing XI vs NZ 2nd Test: Selection headache for Rahul Dravid – who will make way for Virat Kohli in playing XI?
- Shubman Gill
- Cheteshwar Pujara
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- Ajinkya Rahane
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Wriddhiman Saha (WK)
- Ravichandran Ashwin
- Axar Patel
- Umesh Yadav
- Mohammed Siraj
India Playing XI vs NZ 2nd Test: Players under scanner
Ajinkya Rahane
Stand-in-captain for the opening Test, Ajinkya Rahane is on top of the list when it comes to being first choice replacements. The 34-year-old is under fire from all verticals owing to his poor show for the last couple of years. He has struck only one century and a couple of fifties in the last 16 Tests. Over the years, his average has witnessed a staggering decline from 51.37 to 39.60.
Ajinkya Rahane in last two years:
2020- 272 runs from 4 Tests @38.86
2021- 407 runs from 12 Tests @20.35
vs NZ in 1st Test- 35 and 4 runs respectively
Former New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori says India cricketer Ajinkya Rahane should be dropped for the second Test in Mumbai from December 3 so that he gets time to overcome his lean patch, which has continued for too long.
Cheteshwar Pujara
Ajinkya Rahane’s first Test deputy Cheteshwar Pujara is also under fire for his dismal performance. He managed scores of 26 and 22 in the Kanpur Test. India’s batting mainstay is yet to score a century since January 2019. If Rahane has been a failure, Pujara has failed to justify his place in the India Test side. However, he slammed 8 fifties in 12 games to keep himself ahead of Rahane in terms of stats attack.
Cheteshwar Pujara in the last two years:
2020- 163 runs in 4 Tests @20.38
2021- 626 runs in 12 Tests @31.30
Mayank Agarwal
With big names Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara, Mayank Agarwal is logically the ideal fit for Virat Kohli’s replacement. He managed scores of just 13 and 17 runs in the first Test at Kanpur. He was nicked twice outside the off stump. However, he was only playing his second Test of 2021 after his failure in Australia in January. He sat for 10 straight matches during these matches.
2020- 133 runs in 4 Tests @16.63
2021- 64 runs in 2 Tests @21.33
Career- 1069 runs in 15 Tests @44.54
@Home- 614 runs in 8 Inns @87.71, 3 centuries
Away from home- 455 runs in 17 Inns @26.76, 4 fifties
Ishant Sharma:
For India’s most experienced player in the squad, Ishant Sharma has drawn a blank in the last two Test matches. After returning with the figures of 0/92 in the 4th Test against England at Leeds, he drew blank again. In Kanpur Test, he returned with the figures of 0/35 and 0/20 in two innings combined. He has lacked the potency and that could see him go out with Mohammed Siraj coming in.
For more sports news and India vs New Zealand LIVE updates, follow us at insidesport.in