Reports: Wankhede pitch unlikely to have much turn for second IND-NZ Test

India is all set to lock horns with New Zealand for the second Test on Friday, December 3 at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. However, ahead of the match, it is been reported that the pitch might have a thick layer of grass with little help for the spinners. The two-match Test series currently hangs at an intriguing position with the Kanpur Test resulting in a draw.

As per sources, the 22 yards in Mumbai currently have a considerable grass cover on it. The less amount of cricket played here in the last two years has played a vital role in this. However, these conditions might force both the teams to make some tough calls in the upcoming Test match.

“The pitch has a thick layering of grass. The ball won’t turn much. The grass seems to have grown tall as no cricket has been played on the main three pitches at the Wankhede Stadium since the ODI between India and Australia in Jan 2020. Some of that grass will be cut away, but at this stage, when the Test match is just days away, you can’t cut too much grass. As a result, they have stopped watering the pitch since Sunday,” a source told TOI.

With the rain prediction, the curator’s job gets furthermore challenging. Opening up on the same the source said, “It will introduce moisture on the grass and the wicket. The wicket will help the fast bowlers initially, with the early morning moisture in play, but it will then become a good batting track. It will have good bounce and carry,” said the source.

Conditions might force India to make changes in the setup for the second Test

India banked on its three spinners in the Kanpur Test to make an impact on the side. The spinners in total scalped 19 wickets in the first Test at the Green Park in Kanpur. On a wicket like this of Mumbai where the conditions might favor the pacers more, India will have a greater challenge to face the likes of New Zealand’s pacer Kyle Jamieson. He has looked impressive against India lately and had picked up six wickets on the slow and low Kanpur track.

With Wankhede providing much more pace and bounce, the speedsters might get an edge in the game. In these conditions, India might need to drop a spinner and play an extra pacer. Owing to this, Mohammed Siraj might make his way into the XI. It will also be interesting to see if India backs Ishant Sharma, who went wicketless in the last game or they will try the young Prasidh Krishna.