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IND vs NZ 2nd Test Day 1: India got off to a cautious start despite bundling out New Zealand for 259 riding on Washington Sundar's heroic seven-fer on Day 1 of the second Test in Pune on October 24.
India get off to careful start after Rohit Sharma returns to pavilion on 0
However, despite bowling out the visitors for a modest total, India found themselves on the back foot due to a shaky start to their innings as they finished the Day 1 on 16/1 after losing Rohit Sharma on a duck. With a challenging pitch favoring spin, India's overnight pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal (6 off 25) and Shubman Gill (10 off 32) will need to play cautiously to navigate through the tricky conditions. The Kiwi spinners, Mitchell Santner and Ajaz Patel, will pose a significant threat on a spin-friendly track heading into Day 2.
Sundar's magical spell throttles New Zealand
Washington Sundar's impressive seven-wicket haul was the highlight of the day for India. Sundar etched his name in the annals of Indian cricket history with a breathtaking bowling performance in the second Test against New Zealand in Pune. The off-spinner claimed a remarkable seven wickets, dismantling the Kiwi batting lineup and inspiring India to a dominant position.
Sundar's selection in the playing XI, ahead of Kuldeep Yadav, had raised eyebrows among many. However, he silenced the critics with a career-best bowling performance in just his fifth Test match. His return to the Indian Test team after a three-and-a-half-year hiatus was marked by this extraordinary spell.
New Zealand, who won the toss and opted to bat, were undone by Sundar's magical bowling. Despite a solid start from Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra, the Kiwis lost their last seven wickets for a mere 62 runs. Sundar's accurate line and length, coupled with his ability to extract spin, proved too much for the New Zealand batsmen.
Sundar's previous best bowling figures in a Test innings were 3/89 against Australia in Brisbane in 2021. However, he surpassed that performance with a remarkable seven-wicket haul against New Zealand in Pune.
The 25-year-old spinner wrapped up the New Zealand innings by dismissing Tim Southee in the final session. Earlier, he had broken a crucial 59-run partnership between Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell by dismissing Ravindra.
Devon Conway, the New Zealand opener, reached his 11th Test half-century after the lunch break. He and Ravindra shared a 62-run stand, frustrating the Indian bowlers. However, Ravichandran Ashwin, India's premier spinner, broke the partnership by dismissing Conway. This wicket marked a significant milestone for Ashwin, as he surpassed Nathan Lyon to become the seventh-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket history.
Tom Latham and Devon Conway began their innings cautiously, but soon accelerated, counterattacking the early pace threat posed by Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep. However, India introduced spin early, with Ravichandran Ashwin trapping Latham LBW on just his fifth ball. Latham returned to the pavilion after scoring just 15. After his dismissal, it was Conway (76 off 141) and Rachin (65 off 105) who steadied New Zealand's boat which helped them go past 250-run mark.
New Zealand, aiming to clinch the series after their historic win in Bengaluru, will be looking to build on their strong start. Their victory in Bengaluru marked their third Test win in India, but they are yet to secure a series win in the country since 1988.
