The last international game India played at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, the ICC labeled the pitch ‘poor’, as the first match of the 3-Test series against Australia had ended in the post-tea session on the third day.

Legendary spinner Shane Warne had indicated to the surface as an ‘eighth-day wicket’ on the first day of Test itself. But chief curator Pandurang Salgaoncar claims that the pitch will avoid a similar fate this time as India play New Zealand in the second ODI on Wednesday.

Salgaoncar has asserted that all the necessary steps had been taken to ensure a ‘sporting track’ for the match. Speaking to CricketNext, he said, “It will be a good cricket pitch and we will have a good match. I am not allowed to speak to the media and this is all I can say at this point in time. I am telling you this wicket will play well and we will see quality action.”

Virat Kohli and his men will lock horns with Kane Williamson’s Black Caps in the important second ODI of the series, looking to bounce back after losing the first match of the series.