India expecting Pant, Gill to be fit for second Test against NZ

India will likely have a full-strength lineup for the second Test against New Zealand, with assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate suggesting on Tuesday that both Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill will be available.

Gill missed the first Test — which the Black Caps won, breaking a 36-year drought in India — while Pant hurt his knee on the second day in Bengaluru.

“Rishabh is pretty good,” ten Doeschate said of the wicketkeeper.

“I think Rohit [Sharma] touched on it the other day.

“He was having a little bit of discomfort at the end range of his movement with the knee.

“But fingers crossed he’ll be good to keep in this Test as well.”

Ten Doeschate also confirmed that Gill is back in training, with his neck injury improving.

“He’s batted last week in Bangalore, he had a few nets,” he said.

“He’s got a little bit of discomfort, but I’ll think he will be good to go for the Test.”

If India are to extend their impressive record of 19 Test series won in a row at home, they need to win the second match in Pune.

Cricket betting sites have installed the hosts as short-priced favourites at -333.33 to win, while New Zealand are a lengthy +500.

A low-bouncing, black-soil pitch with little grass is expected in Pune, which should heavily favour India’s strong spin-bowling attack — a stark contrast to Bengaluru’s seam-friendly wicket.

Ten Doeschate confirmed that one of their key spinners, Ravichandran Ashwin, is in good health despite bowling limited overs on day five of the first Test.

“Ashwin’s fine. He’s absolutely fine,” he said.

“He bowled nicely.

“I know he bowled only two overs in the second innings, but it looked like his pace and his rhythm were back to where it needs to be.”

Offspinner Washington Sundar has been added to India’s squad this week, giving them four spin options for the second Test.

“We’ve certainly got a lot of faith in the spinners that we have,” ten Doeschate said.

“We just want to make sure we’re absolutely prepared for the conditions, and if that does mean taking the ball away from the left-hander, we want that option.”

The Pune Test is set to start this Thursday at 3pm AEDT.

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