Following the Indian cricket team's impressive 280-run victory over Bangladesh in Chennai, attention now shifts to Kanpur for the second and final Test of the series, starting September 27. The preparation of a black soil pitch, contrasting with the red soil surface used in the opener, has sparked discussions on how it will influence the match dynamics.

Kanpur pitch: A game-changer

The Kanpur pitch is anticipated to be significantly flatter, with low bounce expected compared to the Chepauk pitch that provided a balanced playing field for both pacers and spinners. According to report, this change will require batters to adopt a more defensive mindset, as they navigate the low-bouncing deliveries. While spinners are likely to thrive on this pitch, the challenges posed to batters may shape the game’s outcome in favor of the bowlers.

Potential changes for the Indian Team

With spin bowling set to play a crucial role in Kanpur, the Indian team management may consider altering their strategy from the previous match. Instead of fielding three pacers—Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, and Mohammed Siraj—the team might benefit from incorporating a spinner like Axar Patel or Kuldeep Yadav. Given the expected low bounce, Kuldeep could be a more effective choice than Axar, who typically excels on pitches with higher bounce. Aside from this potential adjustment, the Indian team is not anticipated to make further changes ahead of the Test.

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India's squad for the 2nd Test against Bangladesh: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Yash Dayal