In a riveting display of cricketing prowess, New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner steered his team to a position that could see them make history against India in Pune. With his second five-wicket haul in the same match and a remarkable ten-wicket total in the Test series, Santner has etched his name in the annals of cricketing excellence. As the third day progressed, the afternoon session was marked by India’s dramatic downfall, losing six wickets, five of which were claimed by Santner (5-72). The remaining dismissal was credited to a run-out, which Santner had a significant role in orchestrating. As a result, India found themselves walking into the tea break at 178/7, still a daunting 181 runs away from victory. This precarious position suggests New Zealand is on the verge of delivering India its first series loss at home since 2012.
This session initially seemed promising for India, thanks to Yashasvi Jaiswal’s aggressive yet calculated play. Jaiswal’s 77-run performance put the visitors under immense pressure, with his adept shot selection and aggressive intent showcasing his intent to lead the charge against New Zealand’s bowling attack. However, it was Santner who would soon become the central figure in the unfolding drama.
Santner initiated his spellbinding performance by dislodging Shubman Gill, who fell victim to a slick delivery that caught the edge, resulting in a catch in the slips. The maestro spinner landed a proverbial hammer blow by also removing Jaiswal, who had been steering India’s innings. Due to presumably an aching back, Jaiswal’s use of the sweep shot notably subsided post-lunch, despite receiving treatment even between overs. This lapse in strategy proved fatal as Santner found the edge, sending Jaiswal back to the pavilion.
The loss of Jaiswal led to a downturn in India’s fortunes, triggering a rapid collapse. Already reeling from losing two quick wickets, Rishabh Pant’s run out, following a misjudgment in coordination with Virat Kohli, compounded India’s woes further.
. From a promising 127/2, India tumbled to a precarious 127/4, losing two crucial left-handers who could have counterbalanced New Zealand’s lethal spin attack. India attempted to counter by shuffling the batting order, introducing Washington Sundar at number six to deploy a left-right combination strategy. This tactical move, however, did not foil Santner’s plans.
The indefatigable Santner continued his dismantling of the Indian batting lineup, securing the prized wickets of Kohli for the second time in the match. Santner’s uncanny ability to read the play and execute precisely dealt blows to India’s middle order, eventually claiming Sarfaraz shortly after Kohli. Sundar, too, succumbed to Santner’s wiles, leaving India further beleaguered.
Despite the growing inevitability of the match’s outcome, stalwarts Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin clung on, hoping to stave off further catastrophe. Yet, the air of finality seemed to hover over the ground, as Santner’s relentless precision and utilization of the Pune pitch had left India’s ambitions in disarray.
Earlier in the match, New Zealand established a lead by scoring 259 in the first innings and subsequently 255 in the second, with Tom Latham contributing a critical 86 runs. On the bowling front, Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja managed impressive performances for India with figures of 4-56 and 3-72, respectively. But the spotlight firmly remained on Santner and his strategic acumen with the ball that left the hosts floundering.
As the match draws closer to its impending conclusion, New Zealand appears to have one hand firmly on a historic series triumph against India at home—a feat not accomplished by any visiting team since 2012. Santner’s miraculous spell may well go down as a legendary chapter in New Zealand cricket, marking a potential watershed moment in the series. While there remains a possibility for a dramatic twist in the narrative, the current trajectory positions New Zealand tantalizingly close to etching their name in history once more.