India is set to face New Zealand in the second Test at Pune, but there’s a notable change in the lineup. Kuldeep Yadav has been dropped from the Playing XI, raising questions among fans and analysts alike. This decision follows his mixed performance in the first Test, where he picked up three wickets but struggled to find his rhythm. Find out why Kuldeep Yadav is missing from today’s Test match against New Zealand.
Kuldeep Yadav Dropped for the Second Test
New Zealand captain Tom Latham won the toss and chose to bat first on a surface expected to favour batting. “We’re going to have a bat. The surface is slightly different from last week. Not a lot of grass. It might produce a bit of spin as we expect when we come to these parts of the world,” Latham stated during the toss.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma confirmed Kuldeep’s exclusion, saying, “The pitch is a little drier, yes. We understand how important the first 10 overs are. Three changes—Siraj, KL, and Kuldeep miss out. Akash Deep, Washington, and Gill come in.” Although Rohit did not specify the reasons for Kuldeep’s drop, it is believed that tactical considerations played a significant role.
Why is Kuldeep Yadav Dropped for the Second Test?
Washington Sundar has been brought into the squad as Kuldeep’s replacement. Sundar was not included in the 15-man squad for the first Test but has shown impressive form recently, including a century for Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy. His inclusion aims to strengthen India’s batting lineup while also providing an option against New Zealand’s left-handed batsmen.
India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir explained this strategy: “We just felt that they have 4 or 5 left-handers in their playing XI. If we want another bowler who can take the ball away from them, it’s always going to be useful for us.”
In the first Test against New Zealand, Kuldeep took three wickets but failed to establish consistent pressure on the opposition. His overall performance at home has been under scrutiny, with fans and experts questioning his place in the team given his recent form. On the other hand, Washington Sundar has played only four Tests but boasts an impressive average of 66.25 with the bat. Sundar also has six wickets to his name. His recent performances in the Ranji Trophy have made him a valuable addition to the squad.
India Aiming for a Turnaround
This second Test is crucial for India as they aim to level the series after losing the first match by eight wickets. New Zealand currently leads 1-0 in this three-match series. India’s chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship Final hinge on their performance in this match.
Rohit Sharma emphasized the importance of bouncing back: “When you play a Test match like that, the first session didn’t go our way. But we batted well in the second innings. We take a lot of positives from that and see how we can turn things around here. Always want to find ways to get back into the Test match when you’re behind.,” he stated. The team will be looking to regain momentum against a strong New Zealand side.
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