Following a disheartening defeat in the opener of the five-match series at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, the Indian cricket team is poised for a strong comeback at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam, which is slated to host the crucial second Test. The venue, affectionately known as Vizag, is a fortress of sorts for India, with a resolute track record in the longest format of the game.
In Vizag, the Indian cricket team has a track record of dominance. Having contested only two Tests at this ground, both encounters saw them triumph with significant margins. The venue’s international red-ball debut was in November 2016 against England when India, under the stewardship of captain Virat Kohli, crushed the English side by a margin of 246 runs. Kohli’s stellar performances with the bat earned him the Player of the Match, rewarding his contributions of 167 and 81 in the first and second innings, respectively.
Spin wizard Ravichandran Ashwin, who took a five-wicket haul in the inaugural innings at the venue, will undoubtedly have nostalgic memories of this ground. Vizag’s second Test match unfolded in October 2019, with India engaging in a battle against the South African team. Echoing the victorious rhythm of their previous appearance, India overwhelmed the Proteas by 203 runs, courtesy of Mayank Agarwal’s scintillating double century and Rohit Sharma’s compelling 176 in the opening innings.
Once again, Ashwin emerged as a key figure, this time with a captivating seven-wicket haul in the Proteas’ first innings. Mohammed Shami compounded South Africa’s woes with a five-for in their second innings, enabling India to wrap up another emphatic 203-run victory.
The squad for the upcoming second Test is a blend of experience and youth, with Rohit Sharma leading the pack as captain. Alongside him are notable names like Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, wicketkeepers KS Bharat and Dhruv Jurel, and a proficient bowling line-up featuring Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, and vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah. Young talents such as Avesh Khan, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Washington Sundar, and Saurabh Kumar round up a formidable contingent ready to face the English challenge head-on.
England, not to be underestimated, boasts a strong touring party, including players like Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, and their captain Ben Stokes. With Ben Foakes donning the gloves as wicketkeeper and a robust pace attack comprising Mark Wood, Jack Leach, Ollie Robinson, and the seasoned James Anderson, alongside young talents like Rehan Ahmed and Daniel Lawrence, the squad presents a stiff competition. The support staff, featuring luminaries such as Brendon McCullum, Paul Collingwood, Marcus Trescothick, Jeetan Patel, and Neil Killeen, provides a strong strategic backbone for the visiting team.
Aside from the primary contest, cricket enthusiasts have other related stories to delve into, including the exclusion of West Indies sensation Shamar Joseph from the ILT20, upswings for Deepti Sharma and Beth Mooney in the ICC Women’s T20I Rankings, and an incident involving Faf du Plessis and Kieron Pollard during a rain-afflicted SA20 match.
As the second Test beckons, India sets its sights on leveraging the winning streak at Vizag to level the series. Having fortified their cricketing citadel twice before, they aim for a hat-trick of triumphs on this ground, which has proved to be both a battleground and a haven for Test cricket feats.
