2nd Test
Day-1 Evening Session Highlights:
Washington Sundar’s stunning 7-wicket haul has dismissed New Zealand for 259 runs on the opening day in Pune
At The Stumps of Day-1:
New Zealand scored 259 (1st Innings), where as India scored 16/1 (1st Innings).
So, finally New Zealand lead by 243 runs.
Washington Sundar’s career-best 7 for 59 sparked a dramatic collapse as New Zealand plummeted from 197 for 3 to be all out for 259 on the opening day of the second Test in Pune.
India ended the day at 16 for 1.
Sundar’s performance marked the first five-wicket haul for an Indian spinner at this venue, overshadowing the half-centuries scored by Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra earlier in the day.
Drafted into the squad just days before the match, Sundar replaced Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI.
India made two additional changes from the side that lost the opening Test, bringing in Akash Deep and Shubman Gill for Mohammed Siraj and KL Rahul.
New Zealand started strong, with a flurry of boundaries against Akash Deep, while Jasprit Bumrah kept things tight from the other end.
The introduction of spin in the eighth over quickly paid off when R Ashwin trapped Tom Latham leg before wicket with a delivery that straightened slightly.
Despite the spinners operating for most of the first two sessions, the New Zealand batters found it relatively easy to score runs without taking many risks.
The slow pitch allowed Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Sundar to bowl at high speeds, which enabled them to beat the bat and hit the pads frequently, though genuine threats were scarce.
Will Young’s dismissal was unfortunate; he edged an Ashwin delivery that spun past him, leading to a review from Rohit Sharma after Sarfaraz Khan at short leg urged him to take it.
Conway and Ravindra, however, made sure the Indian spinners had to work hard for their wickets.
Conway took the initiative against Bumrah right after lunch, driving a half-volley to bring up his half-century and following it with more boundaries.
Just when he looked set for a significant innings, Conway chased a half-tracker from Ashwin and edged it to the keeper, giving the off-spinner his third wicket.
For nearly four hours, New Zealand seemed comfortable despite three dismissals.
However, everything changed dramatically just 15 minutes before tea, beginning with Ravindra, who was squared up and bowled by a sharply turning delivery from Sundar.
In the next over, Tom Blundell was bowled as well, shifting momentum firmly in India’s favor.
In the second session, New Zealand had momentarily found their footing against the spinners, with Ravindra even stepping out to hit Jadeja for six.
Yet, the lack of moisture in the third session, combined with more variations in the spinners’ pace, triggered a batting collapse.
Washington, consistently testing the off-stump with his off-breaks, capitalized on this.
Mitchell was trapped leg before, and Glenn Phillips holed out to Ashwin at long-off, while Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel, and Santner all succumbed to Sundar’s flight and turn.
Washington claimed four wickets in his last four overs, rapidly dismantling the tail.
Notably, all 10 wickets fell to off-spinners.
Despite India’s dominant position, they faced their own challenges late in the day, with Rohit Sharma bowled for a duck by a delivery from Tim Southee that moved away.
Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal ended the day unbeaten, but not without some anxious moments.
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