India v New Zealand second Test preview: Who will win?

IND v NZ second Test: Who will win?

New Zealand claimed their first Test win in India since 1989 in the first match, having bowled India out for 46 in the first innings. That was India's lowest-ever Test total on home soil, with Rohit Sharma admitting after the day's play that he had misread the pitch when opting to bat first. New Zealand pulled out a big first-innings lead thanks to a second Test century from Rachin Ravindra, before India brought themselves back into contention in their second innings. Sarfaraz Khan scored a memorable maiden century, batting alongside Rishabh Pant who was out for 99. Despite forcing the Black Caps to bat again, the tourists chased the runs down comfortably on the final morning to secure a big win.

However, despite their home dominance seemingly having been shaken, India remain overwhelming favourites going into the second Test. Weather and conditions played into New Zealand's hands in Bengaluru, with those factors set to be less powerful in Pune. There is likely to be less in the surface for New Zealand's pacers and more for India's spinners, with R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja set to play key roles. The bookies also see it that way, with India backed to win at a 1.18 return on every pound betted with Batery, compared to 4.8 for New Zealand.

IND v NZ second Test: Which side will hit the most boundaries?

Following India's aggressive batting display in their second innings, it should come as no surprise that they're backed to score the most boundaries in Pune. Sarfaraz whacked 18 fours and three sixes in his 150, while Pant clubbed nine fours and five sixes in his 99. In total, India scored 63 boundaries in their second innings, while New Zealand managed 56 in their first, both sides scoring over 400 in those innings.

India are backed at a 1.16 return on every pound betted with Batery to score more boundaries than New Zealand.

IND v NZ second Test: Who will have the better opening partnership?

India's opening partnership failed in the first innings, like the rest of their batting, and only mustered nine before Rohit was dismissed for two. In the second innings however, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit combined for 72 before Jaiswal fell. No opening partnership has scored as many runs this year as Rohit and Jaiswal have, averaging 39.94 runs per partnership since January.

In contrast, Devon Conway and Tom Latham have averaged 19.10 from 10 opening partnerships this year. They reached 67 in the first innings in Bengaluru before Latham was trapped lbw by Kuldeep Yadav, with Latham out for a duck in the first over of the second innings. However, both are backed evenly to have the higher partnership in Pune, with odds of a 1.85 return on every pound betted with Batery for both partnerships.

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