India vs New Zealand 2nd Test Prediction

If NZ Bat First

Predicted Score: 300-350

With Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor struggling for runs, it will be up to Tom Latham and skipper Kane Williamson at the top of the order to ensure New Zealand get off to a good start. Luke Ronchi and Mitchell Santner made valuable contributions in both the innings and they are going to be the vital cogs in the middle order. Latham, Williamson, Ronchi and Santner - the four half-centurions from the first test - will be the key for New Zealand to reach the predicted score. Expect the ever consistent Kane Williamson to top-score for his team.

India are going to rely mainly on the spin of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja who together took 16 of the 20 Kiwi wickets to fall in the first match. Ashwin has become the fastest Indian to reach 200 wickets in test cricket and the second-highest overall. He has 14 wickets from three matches at this ground and has every chance of taking the most wickets in this match. It will be a bonus for India if their seamers can chip in with a few wickets, but mostly, they will be bowled just to give the spinners a rest in between long spells. There is no news yet whether they will be going in with an extra spinner in Amit Mishra in place of a fast bowler.

IND vs NZ Head-to-Head in Tests

Of the 55 tests between the two teams, India have won 19 while New Zealand have won 10 with the rest resulting in a draw. New Zealand have played two test matches against India at the Eden Gardens and both ended in a draw.

Our Prediction

India's overall record at the Eden Gardens in test matches is a pretty decent one - 11 wins, 9 losses and 19 draws from 39 matches. In their last 13 matches here, they have won 10, lost 3 and drawn 2. Recent performance has been very good with three wins in their previous four tests, and all three of them were won by an innings.

New Zealand have played only two test matches at this ground against India, and the fact that they were able to draw both these games will inject some confidence into the team ahead of the second test. The visitors managed to take control of the game for a few sessions and they were very much in it till the end of the second day's play, only to lose their way from there onwards.

38 out of the 78 tests played at this ground have resulted in a draw. Good batting conditions are likely on the cards for this match, and if the Kiwis are able to give an improved performance with the bat, there will be a good chance for a draw.

Although a New Zealand victory seems to be the least likely outcome, a draw could still be around the corner provided their batsmen offer a strong resistance. But we feel the Indian spinners will wreak havoc again and give India a 2-0 lead in the series.