India opener Prithvi Shaw seems to be fit and running for the second Test match against New Zealand. Head coach Ravi Shastri announced that he (Shaw) is fit and is ‘good’ for the second Test. Swelling on his left foot threatened Shaw’s participation in the game. He also missed the practice session two days before the Test but Shaw returned to nets on the eve of the game and looked fit.
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Team India have a ready to go replacement in the form of Shubman Gill and he would have played the Test in case Shaw wasn’t available.
Shaw scored 30 runs in the first Test. He got out to Tim Southee in the first innings while Trent Boult snared his wicket in the second innings.
While most players will keep their places, Team India’s lineup is expected to have one change as R Ashwin is likely to make way for Ravindra Jadeja. The latter was surprisingly kept out of playing XI for the first Test. The visiting team needs as many batsmen in the playing XI and Jadeja is highly likely to replace Ashwin.
Home team New Zealand is also confirmed to have one change as their lead pacer Neil Wagner is all but confirmed to be part of playing XI. He might replace Kyle Jamieson. The debutant did take four wickets and scored 44 runs but New Zealand have no other option but to drop him. Should NZ consider playing four pacers, Ajaz Patel will make way for Wagner.
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The second Test of the series takes place at Hagley Oval in Christchurch from Saturday. BlackCaps are leading the two-match series 1-0. They defeated India by a big margin of 10 wickets in the opening Test. The second Test will also mark an end to Team India’s 10-match tour of New Zealand.