FILE PHOTO: Newly appointed Indian cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir addresses the media at a pre-departure press conference ahead of the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, in Mumbai, India, July 22, 2024. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas/File Photo
PUNE, India (Reuters) - India head coach Gautam Gambhir backed K.L. Rahul to regain his batting form, while New Zealand prepared for a trial by spin in the second test between the sides beginning on Thursday.
India's proud record of not losing a single test series on home soil since 2012 is on the line after New Zealand beat them by eight wickets in the series opener in Bengaluru.
The hosts were bundled out for 46 in the first innings and a vastly improved 462 in the second was not enough to prevent New Zealand from going 1-0 up in the three-test series.
Rahul, who was trolled on social media after his scores of zero and 12 in Bengaluru, appears to have slipped behind Sarfaraz Khan in India's batting pecking order.
Sarfaraz smashed a rapid 150 in the second innings to justify his selection after Shubman Gill missed the match with a stiff neck.
Gambhir confirmed a fit-again Gill would resume his place but also backed Rahul, who smashed a half century against Bangladesh in Kanpur last month, to come good.
"Social media does not matter one bit," former India opener Gambhir told reporters on Wednesday.
"What the team management and leadership group thinks is very important.
"I think he is batting very well and had a decent knock in Kanpur on a difficult wicket.
"I am sure he also wants to score big runs and he has the capability of scoring runs. That's why he has been backed by the team..."
Given the presence of several left-handed batters in the New Zealand lineup, India are also considering playing off-spinner Washington Sundar, the coach added.
Gambhir said finalising India's playing XI, which would be revealed at Thursday's toss, was a "challenge" as well as indicative of the depth in the side.
He also praised India's fearless batting in the second innings despite the first-innings collapse.
New Zealand, meanwhile, expect an under-pressure India to revert to their traditional strength and roll out a turning track in Pune.
"We had a brief look at (the pitch) yesterday," said New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra.
"It definitely looked very dry, very spin-friendly.
"It's something we thought they'd do after that test. Honestly, we've just got to adapt to what's in front of us.
"For us, it's about adapting to what's in front of us, making that early read and hopefully we can make those changes if need be."
(Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; editing by Christian Radnedge)
