India dropped KL Rahul, who scored only 0 and 12 runs in the first Test against New Zealand, from the playing XI for the second Test, which will be played at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium.

The second IND vs NZ test match got underway on Thursday morning at the MCA Stadium in Pune. In the first test in Bengaluru, New Zealand had registered a historic win, their third in India and their first in 36 years.

India made three changes for the second Test against New Zealand in Pune. KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav were dropped and replaced by Shubman Gill, Akash Deep and Washington Sundar, respectively.

New Zealand have won the toss and have opted to bat first at the Maharashtra cricket association stadium in Pune. Shubman Gill has replaced KL Rahul in the India playing XI for today.

Batting coach Ryan ten Doeschate says Shubman Gill, who had a neck strain, is 'good to go' for the Pune Test; Sarfaraz Khan is coming off a maiden Test century, but captain Rohit Sharma had said he wanted to give KL Rahul time at No.

KL Rahuls place in the Indian Test squad has come under scrutiny after his failure in the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru. Fit-again Shubman Gill will return to the playing eleven and sidelining Sarfaraz Khan after his 150 in the second innings is out of equation now.

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With Shubman Gill regaining fitness, it will be a toss up between KL Rahul and birthday boy Sarfaraz Khan for a middle-order batting spot in the India vs New Zealand 2nd Test in Pune.