For the first time in this domestic season, India is finding themselves on the opposite end. A Test loss and there are questions about the team, the composition, the confidence of the team and the biggest of it all – the surface. ICC match referee Chris Broad rated the Pune surface as ‘poor’ which resulted in a 333-run loss for the home side – first home loss for Virat Kohli.
Now, the second Test in bangluru provides India a chance to show their best, something they’ve already done this domestic season with whitewash wins against New Zealand (3-0), England (4-0) and Bangladesh (1-0). While the loss in Pune has caused a blip, it gives the home side reason to prove themselves. in the preparation of the second test, kohli and coach Anil Kumble have already dismissed the threat of Steve O’Keefe and Mitchell Stark and like true champion team, who believes in themselves, they confirmed that team will back underperforming Ajinkya Rahane.
India squad:
Virat Kohli, Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma,Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Karun Nair, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav,Abhinav Mukund, Hardik Pandya
