With New Zealand taking an early lead in the three-match Test series, India’s home dominance is under threat, making the second Test even more crucial. After suffering a defeat in the first Test in Bengaluru, India will be looking to bounce back in Pune, where the second match will be played at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium.
New Zealand surprised India with an outstanding bowling display in the first innings, dismissing India for just 46 runs. Despite a resilient effort in the second innings, with Rishabh Pant and Sarfaraz Khan attempting to pull things back, India couldn’t stop New Zealand from taking the lead and chasing down 107 runs to win.
India’s Test Record at the MCA Stadium The MCA Stadium in Pune has hosted two Test matches before, with mixed results for India. In 2017, Australia defeated India by 333 runs, while in 2019, India dominated South Africa, winning by an innings and 137 runs.
| Match | Winner | Win Margin | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| India vs Australia | Australia | By 333 runs | February 23-25, 2017 |
| India vs South Africa | India | By an innings and 137 runs | October 10-13, 2019 |
MCA Stadium Pitch Report The pitch at the MCA Stadium is known to favor batting initially, with first-innings scores averaging over 400 runs. However, as the game progresses, the surface tends to deteriorate, making batting in the second innings much more challenging. The average second-innings score drops to around 190 runs, with spinners coming into play later in the match.
For India, the spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin will be key players on this track. New Zealand’s spinners will also look to take advantage of the conditions as the match progresses.
MCA Stadium Stats The MCA Stadium has hosted multiple formats of international cricket. Here’s a breakdown:
- 4 T20 Internationals
- 12 One Day Internationals (ODIs)
- 2 Test matches
- 5 matches during the ODI World Cup
In total, the stadium has hosted 23 international matches to date.
As India looks to bounce back in the series, the conditions at Pune will be crucial in deciding the outcome of the second Test. With the pressure on the hosts to make a comeback, fans can expect an intense battle at the MCA Stadium.