The Green Park pitch in Kanpur, where the second and final Test of the India-Bangladesh series begins on September 27, is likely to offer a slower surface with low bounce. The red soil will darken, and the bounce and carry will gradually diminish as the match progresses. However, a rank-turner is not anticipated.
Unlike the pitch used in Chennai for the first Test, which maintained a true bounce throughout its four days, the Kanpur pitch is expected to flatten due to its black-soil composition. While the seamers and spinners in Chennai enjoyed a lively surface thanks to the red soil brought in from Mumbai, Kanpur's slower pitch could influence team selection. This change in conditions may lead both sides to opt for an additional spinner instead of a third seamer.
In Chennai, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja demonstrated the effectiveness of spin combined with bounce, sharing nine wickets in Bangladesh's second innings. However, the slower pitch in Kanpur may see India selecting either Kuldeep Yadav or Axar Patel to complement their spin attack.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh faces a selection dilemma, as Shakib Al Hasan remains uncertain due to a finger injury sustained while batting on the fourth day of the Chennai Test. Even if he is fit to play, the team may consider bringing in Taijul Islam, a left-arm spinner, in place of Nahid Rana. If Shakib is unavailable, offspinner Nayeem Hasan could join the lineup to maintain a three-spinner strategy.
India's last Test at Green Park was against New Zealand in 2021, where they fielded three spinners—Ashwin, Jadeja, and Axar. That match, like the one in 2016 at the same venue, lasted all five days. While India dominated in 2016, New Zealand fought hard to secure a draw in 2021.
With the pitch offering little assistance to bowlers, batsmen could have an easier time, potentially leading to big scores. The 2021 Kanpur Test saw Shreyas Iyer score a century and a fifty on debut, while Tom Latham impressed with two half-centuries, showcasing strong defence against India's spin attack.