'No spin' talk could be local spin: Black Caps

New Zealand could be handed a luxury not often afforded to visiting teams in India – a respite from dusty wickets – for the second Test which starts at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday (1pm AEST).

The virgin pitch, which was relaid a few months back, sports a thin layer of grass to keep it firm and intermittent monsoon rains have ensured the covered wicket retained some moisture.

"The pitch is not going to turn, there is too much moisture and this is the first match of the season," said former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who now heads Cricket Association of Bengal, the local organisers.

"So unless something happens in the last two days, I don't see a lot of turn in the pitch."

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The news should have delighted a touring team still recovering from a bruising, morale-sapping 197-run defeat in the first Test in Kanpur where India's spin twins Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja shared 16 wickets on a dust bowl.

But Black Caps coach Mike Hesson predicted another trial by spin for his team in oppressive hot and humid conditions.

"Yes, I am expecting similar conditions to Kanpur," Hesson told reporters. "Possibly, even a little bit hotter from a temperature point of view.

"From a pitch point of view, based on what we saw in the World T20 and recent results here, spin's going to play a massive part again."

During the World T20 in March, New Zealand played one match at the Eden Gardens when they thrashed Bangladesh by 75 runs after five wickets from the spinners helped bundle the rivals out for 70.

India coach Anil Kumble, whose side will replace Pakistan as world number one if they win the Test and with it the three-match series, appeared at ease with what the pitch may offer.

"It should be a good wicket," the spin great said. "We are not really worried too much about the pitch. We have all our bases covered.

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"But there has been a lot of rain. I hope rain does not play spoil-sport during the Test."

Both sides will be forced to make changes in their playing XI, due to injuries and the likely pitch and weather conditions.

The Black Caps will welcome back off-spinner Jeetan Patel, who played the last of his 19 Tests in January, 2013, to join a three-pronged spin attack in place of the injured Mark Craig.

Left-handed opener Gautam Gambhir returns to the India squad after two years to replace in the injured Lokesh Rahul, but indications are he may sit on the sidelines to accommodate Shikhar Dhawan.

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Hesson hoped New Zealand will continue to fight, like they did in Kanpur, but said it was important to build long partnerships and sustain the pressure with the ball.

"It's something that we really expect of each other that we keep fighting, and we certainly did that in Kanpur," the coach said. "Not many sides actually go to four days over here, let alone five, and still stay in it.

"But in our partnerships we need to go a little bit longer and with the ball we need to sustain pressure a little bit longer. It's tough but we'll keep battling, that's for sure."

Skipper Kane Williamson will do his side a big favour by winning the toss and having first use of good batting conditions.