India vs Australia 2017, second Test, Bangalore: After a demoralising defeat in the first Test of the ongoing 4-Test match series, India would be raring to get back on the field and put up a better show in the second Test at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.
The pitch at Maharashtra Cricket Association stadium in Pune was a rank turner and this strategy backfired on India. Australian batsmen have a history of struggling on turning tracks in India and this was precisely the reason why a dust bowl was prepared for the opening Test match of the series.
Australia won the toss and elected to bat, and this made a big difference. The pitch started turing right from the first session and deteriorated as the game progressed. Taking nothing away from Australian batsmen and bowlers, the toss played a big role in the outcome of the match. Even former Australian captain Michael Clarke, who is a part of the commentary team for the series, said the same thing.
“India will be tougher for Australia to beat in Bengaluru than in Pune. If India would’ve won toss and batted in Pune, I don’t know if result would’ve been the same,” Clarke told India Today TV.
Here’s what Team India needs to do to win the second Test against Australia in Pune:
1) Strength the batting department by bringing in Karun Nair for Jayant Yadav
Jayant Yadav was ineffective with both bat and ball in the first Test. On a pitch that was turning square, Yadav wasn’t able to trouble the Aussie batsmen. Also, India need to add more depth to their batting unit and triple-centurion Karun Nair is the right man for this job. Nair has a very solid technique and his ability to play sweep shots will help India counter attack, if needed. So, replace Jayant Yadav with Karun Nair in the playing XI for the second Test.
2) DRS: Don’t Rush System
India’s skipper Virat Kohli made some forgettable Decision Review System (DRS) calls in the first innings. In the second test, Virat Kohli will have to be much more careful while asking for reviews.
In the seven Test matches since the start of DRS, India have got only 17 correct decisions out of the 55 referrals.
3) Catches win matches
India are a good fielding unit but they had a forgettable game in Pune. Australian captain Steve Smith was dropped twice and his innings in the second innings, in which he scored a brilliant hundred, made a big difference in the end.
Virat Kohli and his men have dropped 23 catches in the last 10 Tests.
India are still a very strong team in home conditions and losing one match can’t take anything away from what they have achieved in the last 12 months or so. They are still the number 1 Test team in the world and they will have to play like one to turn the things around and level the series 1-1 after the second Test.
