Xtra Time Web Desk: Heavy downpour in Mumbai may influence the Indian team management to change the bowling combination ahead of the second test against New Zealand which gets underway from Friday. The persistent rain, with the pitches being under cover at Wankhede Stadium will mean that there is bound to be a lot of moisture underneath the surface.
The extra moisture will certainly help the seamers way more than it did in Kanpur but a surface like this also helps the tweakers as it also helps in getting appreciable turn. It will be interesting whether the team management play three seamers two spinners combo or stick to the two seamers three spinners combination for Kanpur test.
As of now, Mayank Agarwal is all set to be dropped with skipper Virat Kohli coming in the playing XI as the team’s support staff, including coach Rahul Dravid and bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, have rallied around the under-fire Ajinkya Rahane, who has an average of less than 20 in 12 Tests this year.
The other change which could happen is Wriddhiman Saha going out with a stiff neck and Srikar Bharat getting his maiden Test cap and also opening the innings alongside Shubman Gill.
Considering that there will be seam and swing on offer, there will also be a debate whether Mohammed Siraj will be replacing Ishant Sharma or joining him and Umesh Yadav with Axar Patel being sidelined for the game.
Meanwhile, the untimely Mumbai monsoon threatens to play spoilsport as there is a fair chance of first day’s play during the second Test between India and New Zealand being affected by rain as per weather forecast which may turn the 22-yard strip at Wankhede into a bowlers’ paradise.
The two teams had to call off their respective training sessions on Wednesday as it rained the whole day.