The Impressive TimesPune : In a disappointing display, India lost nine wickets for just 106 runs on Day 2 of the second Test against New Zealand in Pune, resulting in an all-out total of just 156. This performance allowed New Zealand to secure a significant first-innings lead of 103 runs, having posted 259 earlier.
Mitchell Santner was the standout performer for New Zealand, delivering a remarkable spell that earned him figures of 7 for 53. This marked a personal best for Santner, who had previously never taken more than three wickets in a Test innings. Glenn Phillips contributed by claiming two crucial wickets, while Tim Southee took the only wicket of Rohit Sharma, dismissing him for a duck at the end of Day 1.
India resumed batting on Day 2 at 16 for 1, but their middle order collapsed dramatically around the drinks break. Shubman Gill, who seemed to be settling in, was dismissed for 30 off 72 balls, falling to Santner in the 22nd over. He had shared a promising partnership of 49 runs with Yashasvi Jaiswal, who also got out shortly after, falling to Glenn Phillips.
Virat Kohli’s wicket soon followed, as he misplayed a full toss from Santner, leading to his stumps being disturbed. Rishabh Pant joined Jaiswal at the crease, but the partnership was short-lived, as Jaiswal was dismissed right after the drinks break, and Pant soon followed, attempting an aggressive shot and missing the delivery entirely.
As the conditions on the pitch became increasingly challenging for batting, Dinesh Karthik noted in his pitch report that New Zealand’s spinners—Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, and Mitchell Santner—would benefit greatly if they maintained their bowling speeds between 84 km/h and 94 km/h.
In the first innings, New Zealand’s batting was marked by a back-and-forth tussle. R Ashwin made an early impact, claiming the wickets of Tom Latham (15) and Will Young (18). Devon Conway was a bright spot for New Zealand, anchoring the innings with a resilient 76 off 141 balls before being dismissed by Ashwin in the 44th over.
Washington Sundar emerged as a key player for India, taking multiple wickets, including Ravindra (65) and Daryl Mitchell (18). His spell was crucial, as he dismissed several New Zealand batsmen, finishing with impressive figures.
After Day 1, Sundar expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to play in this Test, highlighting his desire to remain accurate and focused throughout his bowling spell. He noted that while the pitch began to spin early on, it settled down later but still offered some assistance for spinners.
As the match progresses, India will need to regroup and perform better in their second innings to stay competitive in this Test. The live score updates continue to reflect the ongoing action as fans eagerly await the next developments.
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