India’s ongoing New Zealand tour will culminate in Christchurch. This tour will now end with the Hagley Oval (Christchurch) Test which will be the second and final game of this two-match Test series.
In this New Zealand tour, while India won the five-match T20I series by the 5-0 margin, the hosts won the three-match ODI series by the 3-0 margin.
After the limited-overs series, New Zealand and India played the first Test of the two-match Test series at Basin Reserve (Wellington). The hosts totally dominated in that match and won by ten wickets. They are now preparing for the second and final game of this Test series.
Starting Date: 29th February
Time: 04:00 AM IST (11:30 local time)
Venue: Hagley Oval (Christchurch)
New Zealand team:
The hosts New Zealand played dominant cricket in the first Test of this series. However, Neil Wagner has joined the team and ready for the last game of this Test series. But the big question is who will be dropped from the playing XI to include the top Kiwi Test pacer. All the New Zealand pacers bowled superbly in the last game so that it will be a tough call for the hosts.
If New Zealand doesn’t suffer a defeat in the Christchurch Test, they will secure this Test series. However, the hosts are desperate to win this series by beating the no.1-ranked The test team at Christchurch.
Indian team:
India are likely to go with the same opening partners, Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal. Rishabh Pant can continue the wicketkeeper role as Wriddhiman Saha may have to wait for more times to come back in the Test playing XI.
But before the start of this crucial Test, India received a huge blow after the experienced pacer Ishant Sharma has been ruled out from the upcoming Test match due to recurrence of the ankle injury. He was the best bowler for his team in the last game. Umesh Yadav is likely to replace him, and it can be the only alteration of this team for the Christchurch Test.
It is the must-win game for the Indian team to save this series.
Weather forecast:
Day one morning has the chance for showers. The first day will mostly remain cloudy. Though the other four days will mostly remain partly cloudy and partly shiny, there are a very lesser chance for rain.
Pitch Report:
Like their tradition, the hosts have come with another green top for the upcoming Christchurch Test. The morning session of the day one will be crucial for the match. With the time progress, the batsmen will get better opportunities. However, in the late moment of this match, the spinners can get some assistance from this pitch. The Hagley Oval track will likely behave much better for the batsmen than the Basin Reserve track.
India’s Predicted XI:
| Players | Role |
| Prithvi Shaw | Opening Batsman |
| Mayank Agarwal | Opening Batsman |
| Cheteshwar Pujara | Batsman |
| Virat Kohli | Captain/Batsman |
| Ajinkya Rahane | Batsman |
| Hanuma Vihari | Batsman |
| Wriddhiman Saha | Wicketkeeper/Batsman |
| Ravindra Jadeja | All-rounder |
| Umesh Yadav | Pace Bowler |
| Mohammed Shami | Pace Bowler |
| Jasprit Bumrah | Pace Bowler |
New Zealand’s Predicted XI:
| Players | Role |
| Tom Latham | Opening Batsman |
| Tom Blundell | Opening Batsman |
| Kane Williamson | Captain/Batsman |
| Ross Taylor | Batsman |
| Henry Nicholls | Batsman |
| BJ Watling | Wicketkeeper/Batsman |
| Collin de Grandhomme | All-rounder |
| Tim Southee | Pace Bowler |
| Neil Wagner | Pace Bowler |
| Ajaz Patel | Spin Bowler |
| Trent Boult | Pace Bowler |
Match prediction:
The hosts New Zealand are favourite for this upcoming Test match while the Indian batsmen are struggling in this unfamiliar condition. But if the Indian batsmen show some solid batting performances, the no.1-ranked Test team can return to the game as well as to the series.
Where to Watch:
TV: Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 3
Online: Hotstar