India insist ‘no panic’ ahead of second Test
Ishant Sharma likely to miss second Test against NZ
India said there was no need to panic yesterday ahead of the second Test against New Zealand, insisting this week’s 10-wicket defeat had helped them open a “closed mindset”.
New Zealand quick Trent Boult indicated the odds are stacked against India at Hagley Park in Christchurch, rating it as better for the bowlers than Wellington’s Basin Reserve, the venue for the first Test.
But India coach Ravi Shastri said their heavy defeat, which ended an unbeaten streak stretching back more than a year, was an important learning experience for his team.
“A shake-up like that is good because it opens your mindset,” Shastri said yesterday, a day before the second and final Test.
“When you’re on the road winning all the time, you’ve not tasted defeat, you can have a closed mindset,” he added.
“Once you’ve seen what has happened there are opportunities to learn. You know what strategies New Zealand mentally are employing and you are prepared.
“We’ve had a great run in the Test arena. We’ve played eight and won seven and so one loss there’s absolutely no need to panic.”
In six Tests at Hagley Oval, New Zealand are unbeaten against South Asian sides having won against Sri Lanka (twice),
Pakistan and Bangladesh, while they have lost once to Australia and drawn with England.
Cloud cover
On the eve of the latest Test the pitch was again emerald green with a cloud cover that was forecast to stay around for a few days. “It’s pretty exciting,” Boult said after surveying the wicket.
“I wouldn’t say the confidence is through the roof but we’re very excited about continuing
where we left off.
“I like the overheads that present down here in terms of the cloud cover and the swing that’s on offer. From my point of view I hope it stays that way and we get it to move around a bit.”
Meanwhile, India have received a major setback as pacer Ishant Sharma is likely to miss the match. Ishant has suffered a recurrence of the ankle injury sustained during Ranji Trophy last year, ICC reported.
As a result, he missed yesterday’s practice session and was sent for a test. The team management is waiting for the results. If Ishant indeed misses the second match, then Umesh Yadav may come into the side as his replacement.
Ishant had twisted his right ankle while appealing during Delhi’s match against Vidarbha in the 2019/20 Ranji Trophy.