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India dominated Day 1 of the Pune Test match, with Washington Sundar taking 7 wickets in his comeback, on October 24 (Thursday). On the opening day of the second Test, India struck back, knocking New Zealand out in only 79.1 overs as they looked to salvage the Test series following a crushing defeat in Bengaluru. India's spinners took all ten wickets on Day 1 in Pune, which was a sharp contrast to the Bengaluru Test. Although it was during a phase that was mostly dominated by the New Zealand batters, who displayed plenty of patience to score runs, Ravichandran Ashwin started the match with three wickets in the top order. But it was a landslide once Washington Sundar managed to get rid of Rachin Ravindra (65 off 105).
Washington Sundar on his favourite wicket of the day
The all-rounder from Tamil Nadu said Rachin Ravindra was his favourite wicket as her was batting really well and he also named Daryl Mitchell among the batters he liked to dismiss during the iconic 7-wicket-haul in Pune. Rachin was on track to reach another hundred runs after scoring 65. However, at the second session itself, Sundar sent him back after cleaning bowling him up. He got the better of Rachin by bowling from around the wicket. Rachin clipped the off-stump after being squared up on the defense.
"Just focused on hitting the right areas consistently. We knew it would start spinning from Day 1. (On whether there was a favourite wicket) Certainly the Rachin Ravindra wicket, because he was batting really well, and even the Daryl Mitchell wicket," said Washington Sundar at the end of Day 1.
India bowl out New Zealand for just 259
Although it was not a rank turner, which India has been accused of preparing in the past to help their spinners, it was a pitch that was conducive to spin. But thanks to Washington's brilliance, particularly with the old ball, New Zealand went from 197 for 4 to 259 all out after losing their last 7 wickets for just 62 runs. Washington Sundar had his best bowling results in a first-class match with final figures of 7 for 59. The Tamil Nadu pair split the ten wickets between them, with Ashwin taking three.
Had India not lost skipper Rohit Sharma for 0 at the end of the day's play, they would have finished as a lot happy team. After Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal stayed put and got to Stumps, weathering the difficult burst from the New Zealand spinners, India reached Stumps at 16 for 1 in 11 overs.
