India face a big Test in the second Test match against New Zealand at Christchurch. They did not play well in the first Test and were beaten comprehensively. Indian batsmen and bowlers failed to make any impact and they will be tested severely on a tough pitch. The good thing is that India have good pace bowlers in Bumrah and Shami who can exploit conditions and make life tough for Kiwi batsmen. Ishant Sharma is injured and Umesh Yadav will join the bowling attack in his place. A bowling all rounder is something Indian Team needs desperately and Hardik Pandya would have been a perfect player in these conditions. Lack of a quality all rounder is something Indian Cricket has been grappling with for a long time.
Indian batting also failed miserably and it seems most of the batsmen lack the technique to play Test Cricket confidently. Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Aggrawal are talented batsmen but they are not technically sound. When the ball is moving they are not comfortable and a quality bowler can out think them pretty easily. Even Pujara failed to read the conditions properly which put a big pressure on everyone. Rahane and Vihari were the only batsmen who played convincingly and understood the situation properly. Kohli also needs to bat wisely to ensure than Indian Team does not come under too much pressure. It will be better if India go with Saha as a wicket keeper as he is also a more than capable batsman who knows how to bat with tailenders.
Indian bowlers also need to bowl with precision and discipline to rein in New Zealand batsmen. Bumrah has been unlucky so far on this tour and he will be keen to make an impression. He is one of the finest bowlers Test Cricket currently. Shami is another bowler who has a good record and can make a big impact when he finds his rhythm. A quality spin bowler is also needed by Indian Team who can bowl well on foreign pitches. Ashwin is good on Indian wickets but his overseas record is not satisfactory. Jadeja is another option but his batting is much better than his bowling. A big Test awaits both India and Virat Kohli in this Test match against New Zealand. I hope India will play responsibly and ensure that they keep their fans happy with their performance in Christchurch.